Abstract

A REVIEW ON ARTEMISIA NILAGIRICA (CLARKE) PAMP, A TRIBAL MEDICINAL PLANT SPECIES FROM GARHWAL-UTTARAKHAND REGION

Shivani Bhardwaj* and Chandra Shekhar Tailor

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Abstract

Nature always stands as a golden mark to exemplify the outstanding phenomena of symbiosis. Natural products from plant, animal and minerals have been the basis of the treatment of human disease. Medicine system has been improved a lot; novel discoveries, new techniques, better diagnostics, potent drugs and a lot more. These discoveries, however, are beneficial have a quick onset of action but not to forget that all the natural products are essential as well as mainstay of the alternate system of medicine. One such natural product is Artemisia nilagirica also known as Indian wormwood belonging to family Asteraceae, mostly abundant in hilly areas of India. Many natives used this plant for many medicinal purposes. Pharmacological activities of this plant is noticeably great. Traditional use of this drug is in management of epilepsy, nervous disorders, as diuretics, anti-inflammatory and skin disorders. Essential oil constituents include camphor 1,8-cineole, β-eudesmol, Artemisia alcohol, α-gurjunene, paracymene, terpinene-4-ol and α-pinene and these possess antifungal, antimicrobial, insecticidal and larvicidal activity. Past studies has shown other actions of aerial parts of Artemisia nilagirica such as antifungal, antibacterial, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antiulcer, anticancer, antioxidant and anti-asthmatic activity. Hence proving that the plant is of great therapeutic value providing with the future prospect including preclinical studies on the aerial part as well as root.

Keywords: Artemisia nilagirica, Indian wormwood, epilepsy, nervous disorders, antifungal, antimicrobial etc.