Abstract
Author(s): Samanta Krishanu*
The knowledge of medicinal plants must have been accumulated in the course of many centuries but it is our misfortune that proper chemical and pharmacological evaluation of most of these plants have not done till now. Keeping this view, a details study onHygrophila difformisBlume (Family-Acanthaceae) along with phytochemical study have done. It is commonly known as water wisteria. It isa tropical aquarium plant used as environmental ornaments. It rapid growth helps prevention of algae. The plant grows to a height of 20-50 cm with a width of 15-25 cm, & slender lacy leaves and upright growth. It is found in marshy habitats on the Indian subcontinent including Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. Hygrophiloside was found in the aerial parts of Hygrophila difformis. It is an iridoid glucoside having hepatoprotective activity.On preliminary phytochemical analysis Cardiac glycosides, tannins, steroids, flavonoids & saponins were found. It is used as coagulant by tribal people. The aerial parts of the plant showed good antioxidant property and also shows anthelmintic activity, Ethanolic extracts of aerial parts of the plant shows CNS depressant activity along with analgesic activity in mice