Pharmacological Activities of Barringtonia Racemosa L. (Putat), A Tropical Medicinal Plant Species

The interaction between plants and human has long been established since ancient times. Plants' medicinal properties have been acknowledged very well and considered as humans' living pharmacy for thousands of years. The knowledge of traditional medicine and ethno-botanical uses of plant species in each tribe may serve as a starting point for extensive pharmacological studies to be carried out in medicinal plant species. Barringtonia racemosa (L). which is also known as putat, fish poison tree or powder puff tree is a type of highly valuable plant species due to its medicinal values. Geographically found to be widely distributed from eastern Africa and Madagascar to Micronesian and Polynesian Island, this species is therefore has been associated very well in various tribes around the world with diverse ethno-botanical uses. The present article will discuss the ethno-botanical uses and pharmacological activities of B. racemosa which had been proven through various scientific researches.