Polyalthia longifolia Promises to be a Potential Nutraceutical

Natural products always receive utmost attention due to their wide utility in traditional medicinal system worldwide whether it is Indian, Egyptian, Chinese, or Greek. A number of herbal preparations either in wholesome or in their components have been shown to translate protection both in vivo and in vitro. Scientifically proven beneficial effects of diet containing fruits, vegetables and certain beverages such as green tea, wine etc. have reincarnated nutraceuticals. Polyalthia longifolia Benth. and Hook (Annonaceae) is a large genus of shrubs and tree which is distributed in tropics and subtropics regions of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka [1,2]. It has been shown to possess variety of medicinal properties in indigenous systems of medicine. Almost all parts of the plants are used in the traditional system of medicine for the treatment of various ailments in human beings. Till date, more than 20 active principles have been isolated and characterized from the P. longifolia in aqueous, methanolic, and ethanolic and chloroform extracts [2-5].