PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF BERSAMA ENGLERIANA GUERKE- AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

Bersama engleriana Guerke (Melianthaceae) is the synonym of the Bersama abyssinica. Bark, leaf and root decoctions are widely taken as a purgative to treat a range of stomach disorders, such as abdominal pain, colic, diarrhea, cholera, intestinal worms, amoebiasis and dysentery. This plant mainly contains mangiferin, swinniol, 4 stigmaster 3b ol, 4 methylstigmaster 5, 23 dien 3 b ol, sterols, flavones, phenols, triterpenes, anthraquinones, Hellebrigenin 3 acetate, hellebrigenin 3, 5-diacetate and bersaldegenin 1, 3, 5 orthoacetate. Bersama engleriana shows hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, anti HIV activities. This review explains various traditional uses as well as phytochemical and pharmacological reports on Bersama engleriana which help the researcher to explode more potential of this plant.