LEUCAS ASPERA – A REVIEW OF ITS BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

Abstract

Herbal plants are natural source of phytochemicals and widely used in Pharmacetical, food and cosmetic industries. Leucas aspera Linn., commonly known as Thumbai or Dronpushpi is a small erect, branched annual aromatic herb , distributed throughout India from the Himalayas down to Ceylon. Medicinally, it has been proven to possess various pharmacological values like antifungal, antipyretic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, analgesic, anti-diarrheal, insecticidal, antiinflammatory, analgesic and cytotoxic activity. The Study on various biological properties of this plant will be useful for its potential use in respective industries. The available reports on anti microbial activity, anti oxidant activity and pharmacological value of L. aspera is explained in this review.