ANISOMELES INDICA: AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

Anisomeles indica commonly known as ‘Indian Catmint’ is native to Southeast Asia and is distributed throughout India, China, Japan and southwards from Malaysia to Australia. The plant is used traditionally as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and in skin problems such as snakebites. Medicinally it has been proven to possess various pharmacological activities like antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti HIV, anti Helicobacter pylori and anticancer activity. It is used in chronic rheumatism. Further studies reveal the presence of various phytochemical constituents mainly triterpenes,β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, flavones, apigenin and ovatodiolides etc. These studies reveal that Anisomeles indica is a source of medicinally active compounds and have various pharmacological effects; hence, this drug encourage finding its new therapeutic uses.