A REVIEW ON PHARMACOGNOSY AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF ARISTOLOCHIA - Payal Chawla

INTRODUCTION Aristolochia belongs to the family Aristolochiaceae. In the indigenous system of medicine, the plant was used for the treatment of skin diseases, inflammation and purgative. Root extract was reported to have anti bacterial activity. A perennial climber shrub with woody base stocks. Leaves simple, alternate, entire, with undulate margins, acute; flowers greenish white, in auxiliary cymes; fruits rounded oblong, 6 chambered contain numerous winged compressed seeds. Biological Source Aristolochia bracteolata is a shrub distributed throughout India, belongs to the family Aristolochiaceae. The genus Aristolochia consists of ABSTRACT Aristolochia is an important genus in the family of Aristolochiaceae. The genus Aristolochia consists of about 400 species of herbaceous perennials, under shrubs or shrubs bearing essential oils and is widespread across Tropical Asia, Africa and South America. Aristolochia species has been used extensively in the traditional Chinese medicine. Its diverse biological functions include hypertension relief, leukocyte enhancement, rheumatism relief, edema therapy, as well as analgesic and diuretic effects. Various Aristolochia species have been used in herbal medicines since antiquity in obstetrics and in treatment of snakebite, festering wounds, and tumors, and they remain in use particularly in Chinese herbal medicine.