Abstract

MEDICINAL PLANT WITH SIGNIFICANT ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL: COLEUS AROMATICUS (PATHER BER)

Gitika Chaudhary*, Bhawna Walia and Vinita Tyagi

ABSTRACT

Medicinal herb Coleus aromaticus belonging to Lamiaceae family and Coleus genus is known by several names in different parts of the world and several language specific vernacular names. This plant has been extensively studied as well as reported in several fields of medical science. The multiple therapeutic uses of the herb include allelopathic uses, antibacterial uses, antimicrobial uses, insecticidal uses; free radical scavenging and radio-protective components from herb extracts and most recently the appetizing uses of the herb have been reported. Carvacrol and thymol are the major phytochemical components of the plant responsible for the flavour; while chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid etc. as the phenolic components. It is a ayurvedic and folkloric medicinal plant used to treat renal and vesical calculi, cough, chronic asthma, hiccough, bronchitis, helminthiasis, colic, convulsions, malarial fever, hepatopathy, and epilepsy. Due to therapeutic and nutritional properties, this plant is highly valued in the pharmaceutical industry. Also, due to its aromatic nature and essential oil producing capability, it is utilized in food industry. The leaves of the plant are often eaten raw or used as flavoring agents, or incorporated as ingredients in the preparation of traditional food.

Keywords: Antioxidant, Coleus aromaticus, PatherBer, Larvicidal, Thymol