A better understanding of traditional uses of Careya arborea Roxb.: Phytochemical and pharmacological review

Careya arborea Roxb. (Lecythidaceae) is a significant medicinal plant known as kumbhi in Ayurveda. Though, most of the plant parts are used in traditional systems of medicine, bark and leaves constitute the important medicinal parts. The present review gives an account of the updated information on its phytochemical and pharmacological properties. The review reveals that numerous phytochemical constituents have been isolated from the plant possessing hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticoagulant, analgesic, antidiarrhoeal and various other important activities. Leaves are used in filaria, colic, loose motions and ulcers. Bark is used as an antipyretic, abortifacient, antipruritic and in smallpox, urinary discharges and rheumatic pain. Since last few decades, extensive exploration has been done to establish the biological activities and pharmacology of the extracts and plentiful chemical constituents including flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids and many other have been isolated.