Abstract
Author(s): MM. Manza and Oommen P Saj
Trichopus zeylanicus ssp.travancoricus Burkill.ex.Narayanan is commonly called ‘Arogyapacha’ or “Kerala Ginseng1” is a small perennial herb with rhizomatous stem belonging to the monogeneric family Trichopodaceae2 . The unripe fruits are used by Kani tribes as a highly rejuvenating tonic comparable to Ginseng. The Kanis claim that to remain healthy, agile, young and resistant to various diseases or infections one should consume the fresh fruits of the plant. Several works were previously done in the laboratories of Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Inststute, Palode, Kerala and revealed the strong anti -fatigue properties of this plant. The pharmacological investigationshave proved antistress, stamina boosting, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, aphrodisiac and antioxidant properties associated with various parts of this plant. A critical survey of the Ayurvedic classics suggests that the divine drug ‘Varahi’ is very true to Arogyapacha. The pharmacological studies showed that all pats of the plant possess medicinal properties like inhibition of antigen induced de-granulation of sensitized peritoneal mast cells in rats ,the antioxidant and DNA protective properties, pharmacognostic activities like immuno-enhancing, antifatigue, antistress properties3,4. A wide scan of literature concerning T.zeylanicus did not showed studies on its cytotoxic and antimicrobial activit