A REVIEW ON PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CISSUS QUADRANGULARIS LINN.

Cissus quadrangularis L. is a succulent plant of family Vitaceae. It is commonly found in tropical and subtropical xeric wood. It is a fleshy, cactus-like liana widely used as a common food item in India. Several distinct chemicals and nutraceuticals derived from plants are important drugs currently used in one or more countries in the world. It is a rich source of calcium, carotene, glycoside and alkaloids it can be used as a nutritional food. It has wide numbers of phytochemical constituents, which are isolated from the stem powder which possesses activities like anti-arthritis, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, gastro protective, antioxidant, antimicrobial and various other important medicinal properties. The plant is prescribed in the ancient Ayurvedic literature as a general tonic and analgesic, with specific bone fracture healing properties. The plant to be useful in helminthiasis, anorexia, dyspepsia, colic, flatulence, skin diseases, leprosy, haemorrhage, epilepsy, convulsion, haemoptysis, tumours, chronic ulcers, swellings.

Keywords: Cissus quadrangularis, Vitaceae, Nutritional food, Medicinal plant, carotene