A Review on Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical and Pharmacological studies of Nalpamaram

Abstract

Ayurveda is an Indian traditional system of medicine used for various disease conditions. Plants are an important source of treatments and are extensively used for the preparation of different formulations. Herbal drugs are separately or in combination used for the treatment of various ailments in the traditional system of medicines. Nalpamaram is an important group of four trees used in Ayurveda which comprises trees like Ficus racemosa, Ficus microcarpa, Ficus benghalensis, and Ficus religiosa belongs to the family Moraceae. Trees have enormous medicinal values and they are lactiferous in nature. These trees are separately or in combination used for the treatment of various ailments in the traditional system of medicines. Different plant parts like bark, leaves, and fruits of ficus species are used as astringent, hemostatic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer, and it useful in pitta and Kapha. They are also effective in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, ulcers, vaginal disorders, leucorrhoea, menorrhea, and deficient lactation conditions. The barks of these trees are an important ingredient of many Ayurvedic formulations like Nalpamaradi Choorna, Nalpamaradi Tailam, Saribadyasavam, and Chandanasavam. The bark of tree is boiled with water; its decoction is used to cleanse the body of pregnant women towards reduce inflammation. This review article compiled the ethnobotanical and phytopharmacological properties of four ficus species trees of Nalpamaram.