Pharmacognostical and Ethnopharmacological evaluation of folklore medicinal plant Exacum lawii

Abstract

Exacum lawii C.B. Clarke, species of genus Exacum is small herb commonly distributed in the Western peninsula, Western coast region of India, Mysore and Coimbatore, Southern part India. It is endemic to Jarandeshwar hill from Satara district, Maharashtra and Western ghat of Karnataka. The common English name is Law’s Persian violet. It is locally known as Lahan chirayata in Maharashtra, Manali in Malayalam, Marukozhunthu in Tamil. The whole plants of Exacum lawii possess the medicinal property and have been used as folk remedy for the treatment of kidney disorders and eye diseases (Hooker, 1885; Gamble, 1923; Kirtikar, 1935; Chopra, 1956). Indigenous practitioners in Satara district of Maharashtra and bababudan hills of Mysore, Karnataka uses Exacum lawii to treat kidney problems. The literature survey on this species results in no information in field of quality control standardization, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Objective Quality control standardization of Exacum lawii. To evaluate the nephroprotective effect of Exacum lawii and its isolated compound swertiamerin against cisplatin- induced nephrotoxicity in experimental rats and human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293). To evaluate antibacterial activity and antifungal activity against strains causing ocular infection to scientifically validate its traditional uses.