BARRINGTONIA RACEMOSA: PHYTOCHEMICAL, PHARMACOLOGICAL, BIOTECHNOLOGICAL, BOTANICAL, TRADITIONAL USE AND AGRONOMICAL ASPECTS
*Isaac John Umaru, Fasihuddin Badruddin Ahmed, Hauwa A. Umaru and Kerenhappuch I. Umaru
ABSTRACT
Barringtonia racemosa (L) which is also known as putat, fish poison tree or powder puff tree is a type of highly valuable plant species due to its medicinal values. Geographically found to be widely distributed from eastern Africa and Madagascar to Micronesian, Asia and Polynesian Island, this species has been associated very well in various tribes around the world with diverse ethno-botanical uses. The therapeutic potential of this herb is as a result of the presence of diverse bioactive compounds such as Lupeol, Germanicol, Teraxanol Barringtogenic, Barringtogenol etc. However, most of the studies on Barringtonia racemosa are restricted to crude extracts, and many biologically active compounds are yet to be identified in order to claim
the traditional uses of this plant as acclaimed by the herbal and traditional practitioners. The plant is threatened and endangered because of over-exploitation, unscientific harvesting, and habitat loss. Increased demand has prompted its large-scale propagation. However, its commercial cultivation is hampered because of the non-availability of genuine planting material and the lack of knowledge on its agronomical practices. However, there is a need for micro propagation technique to obtain the right type of phytochemicals; lupeol, stigmasterol and taraxerol, because of its Antibacterial, antifungal and antinociceptive activities, as a remedy for itch; the roots are considered to be antimalarial, the bark and/or leaves are used in case of boils, snake bites, rat poisonings, gastric ulcer, high blood pressure, chicken pox and as a depurative, the fruits are used as remedy for cough, asthma and diarrhoea, while the seeds are used for cancer like diseases and for eye inflammation. Thus through the knowledge of biotechnological approaches this can guaranty conservation as well as increased metabolite production from this endangered plant.
Keywords: Barringtonia racemosa, phytochemical, morphology, biotechnology.
[Download Article]
[Download Certifiate]