Endangered Medicinal Plant Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr A Review

Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. (Menispermaceae), is a large woody liana found in moist deciduous to the evergreen forest at an altitude of 350-1200m. It is well suited to wet evergreen, semi evergreen, deciduous and dry deciduous forest types. Stem and root of this species are highly medicinal and is sold in the drug sales of India as Maramanjal and Europe as False Calumba or tree turmeric. The stem is bitter, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, febrifuge and tonic and is useful in vitiated conditions of kapha and vata, ophthalmopathy, wounds, ulcers, diabetes, fever, and general debility. Due to destructive collection, overexploitation and habitat loss, the plant is on the verge of extinction in the wild. It is categorized as critically endangered in India, Vulnerable in Vietnam, and Indeterminate in Sri Lanka and Malaysia1-47. Therefore an overview of this plant on pharmacognosy, pharmacology, safety and toxicity is presented below along with HPLC details of Berberine the active ingredient in the stem and root of the plant.