A REVIEW ON STUDIES OF ETHNOBOTANICAL PERSPECTIVES, PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF BARLERIA PRIONITIS LINN.: “A SPECIFIED MEDICINAL PLANT”

Abstract

“Vajradanti” orporcupine flower is the common name of Barleria prionitis Linn. belonging to the family Acanthaceae. It is an indigenous plant in parts of Africa and South Asia. Ayurvedic and other traditional systems recognize the therapeutic use of its flower, root, stem, leaf, and in some cases the entire plant against a wide range of illnesses including fever, cough, jaundice, and severe pain. Recent pharmacognostical screening has demonstrated that this plant is a significant source of secondary metabolites, such as saponin, tannin, flavonoid, alkaloid, glycoside, and phenolic compounds, and that these compounds have potent antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, gastro-protective, and other effects. It is still underused while having potential remedial value. Barlenoside, barlerine, acetylbarlerine, and balarenone are some of the particular compounds found in the plant as well as Lupeol, β-sitosterol, vanillic acid, and syringic acid are some of the more widely distributed secondary metabolites. This review serves as a bird's-eye overview of ethnomedicinal information, morphological data, Pharmacological activity, and phytochemistry of the Barleria prionitis Linn.