PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF ACALYPHUS INDICA LINN: A REVIEW

Plants and there preparations have been used as medicine since ancient time. The Ayurveda and various ancient Indian literatures have evidence the use of plants for various disorders. Acalypha indica L is an erect annual herb with numerous long branches covered with soft hairs. According to the Siddha text, 'Pathartha Guna Chinthamani' (Page no: 179), Acalypha cures diseases of the teeth and gums, burns, toxins of Plant and mixed origin, stomach pain, diseases due to Pitha, bleeding piles, irritations, stabbing pain, wheezing, sinusitis and neutralizes predominance of the Kabha factor. In the traditional medicine the preparations from whole plants have been used to counter various diseases and disorders. The present review is therefore, an effort to give a detailed survey of the literature on its pharamacognosy, phytochemistry, pharmacological and traditional uses.