IJEP 44(13): 1216-1223 : Vol. 44 Issue. 13 (Conference 2024)
1. Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Department of Biotechnology, Dehradun – 248 002, Uttarakhand, India
2. Graphic Era Hill University, School of Agriculture, Dehradun – 248 002, Uttarakhand, India
3. National Centre for Cell Science, Pune – 411 007, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
Roscoea purpurea Smith., commonly known as Kakoli, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Zingiberaceae family. It is native to Nepal and abundantly distributed in the Himalayas between altitudes of 1500-3100 m above sea level. Ashtavarga, an important polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation, contains eight plants including Kakoli. Each of them possesses diverse medicinal attributes, like Jeevaniya (rejuvenation), Brhnayiya (growth promotion) and Vayasthapan (anti-aging). The tuberous rhizome of R. purpurea has a long history of traditional use in the treatments of diabetes, diarrhoea, hypertension, fever, immunostimulants, inflammation, excessive thirst and rheumatic pain. These therapeutic properties are linked with a variety of secondary metabolites, such as tannins, saponins, phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids and glycoside compounds. The bioactive compounds are valuable medicinal resources in the Indian Himalayan region, exhibiting potential applications in both traditional and modern healthcare systems. Several studies have been reported on R. purpurea, including its traditional uses, phytochemistry, genetic diversity, cytotoxicity effects, antioxidant potential and antimicrobial activity. The unregulated harvesting practices and natural disasters have significantly changed the habitat and led to a severe decline in the natural populations. Consequently, R. purpurea is frequently harvested from the wild to meet the rising demand for pharmaceuticals and is categorized as a threatened medicinal plant. Therefore, there is an immediate need to establish conservation strategies for the species. Subsequently, the central focus of this article is directed toward the compilation and evaluation of published data regarding the geographic distribution, traditional applications, phytochemical composition and medicinal properties of R. purpurea.
Keywords
Astavarga, Indian Himalayan region, Kakoli, Phyto-chemicals, Roscoea purpurea Smith, Zingiberaceae
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