Crataeva Tapia Linn. - an Important Medicinal Plant: a Review of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties

Medicinal plants, since times immemorial, have been used in virtually all cultures as a source of medicine. Interest in herbal drugs is growing due to their efficiency, low toxicity and absence/minimal side effects. Crataeva tapia L. (Family-Capparaceae) is a branched tree, commonly called as ‘Varuna’. The plant has been reported to possess several medicinal uses which include anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-fertility, anti-mycotic, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-diarrhoeal, wound healing, anti-helminthic, urolithic property, nephrolithic, hepatoprotective and cardio protective. Given the importance of the tree the present review illustrates the medicinal uses of the plant along with its pharmacognostic characteristics, phytochemistry, pharmacological actions and commercial uses. The innumerable medicinal properties and pharmacological studies establish a scientific basis for therapeutic use of this plant. INTRODUCTION: Nature has bestowed India with an enormous wealth of medicinal plants; therefore India has often been referred to as ‘Medicinal Garden of the World’ . Recently there has been a shift in universal trend from synthetic to herbal medicine, which we can say as ‘Return to Nature’. Medicinal plants have been known for millennia and are highly esteemed all over the world as a rich source of therapeutic agents for prevention of diseases and ailments . Medicinal plants play a vital role for the development of new drugs . Interest in herbal drugs is growing due to their efficiency, low toxicity and absence of side effects . Crataeva tapia Linn. ssp. odora (Jacob.) Almedia (syn. C. religiosa var. nurvula Hook. f.) (henceforth written as Crataeva tapia L.) belonging to family Capparaceae is a much branched deciduous tree, commonly called as ‘Varuna’ . The present review is in view of the growing interest in medicinal plants. It also emphasizes (along with medicinal properties) pharmacognostic characteristics, phytochemistry, pharmacological actions and commercial uses of Crataeva tapia L. and its marketed formulations. Botanical Description: The name Crataeva is derived from ‘Crataevas’, a Greek Botanist and the specific name ‘religiosa’ has been given probably because the plant is often grown near religious places . Roots are long, cylindrical and woody. The outer surface of root and root bark is yellowish brown, longitudinally wrinkled, rough due to the presence of lenticels and lateral roots; the cork exfoliates in the mature bark. Inner surface is smooth, yellow, longitudinally striated, taste slightly bitter, odour indistinct .