Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Mesua ferrea Linn.-A Review

Many plants have not been investigated thoroughly which are used traditionally as a medicine to cure the diseases and are found commonly. Medicinal plants can play vital role in the development of new drugs. It is necessary to conduct the study of these plants. Mesua ferrea Linn. (Family- Guttiferae), commonly known as 'Nagchampa', is one such plant which has many potential therapeutic uses in diseases like rheumatism, asthma, inflammation, fever, dyspepsia, renal diseases, dysentery, bleeding piles and in bacterial and fungal infections. It contains very important class of compounds like coumarins, xanthones, pyranoxanthones, flavonoids, a few terpenoids and steroids. They are easily isolated from the plant and can act as precursors of many therapeutically important compounds. The present review is based on an extensive literature search of reputed books, websites and journals. It gives the idea about the research done on this plant so far and the work that can be done in the future.