Veliparuthi ( Pergularia daemia ( Forsk . ) Chiov . ) – As a phytomedicine : A review

The plant Pergularia daemia has been traditionally used as anthelmintic, laxative, antipyretic expectorant and also used to treat infantile diarrhea and malarial intermittent fevers. It is widely distributed in the tropical and sub tropical regions of the world. Various phytochemical including terpenoid, flavonoids, sterols and cardenolids have been isolated and identified from the various parts of the plant (leaves, stems, shoots, roots, seeds and fruits). P. daemia widely used by various tribal communities in Western Ghats of India for the treatment of variety of ailments, while predominantly the roots of the plant have been used to treat liver disease and jaundice. The present review article aims towards medicinal properties, chemical constituents and other important aspects of P. daemia.