ENDANGERED ETHNO-MEDICINAL PLANT, CORDIA MACLEODII (GRIFF.) HOOK. F. AND THOMSON –– A BRIEF REVIEW

Cordia macleodii is an endangered ethnomedicinal plant found in dry deciduous forest areas of India. It is one of the 13 species belonging to the genus Cordia of the Boraginaceae family, commonly known as Dahipalas or Dahiman. The main identifying feature of this plant is that any injury to the adaxial surface of the leaf will result in persistent black markings. This plant species is at risk of extinction due to several causes, including early flowering, restricted fruit development, premature drying of fruits, and poor seed germination. C. macleodii has been highlighted for its therapeutic effects including antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound healing, aphrodisiac and hepatoprotective abilities, and also used by different tribals of India for healing wounds, mouth sores, treating piles and diarrhoea. Leaf powder of C. macleodii is useful for treating hypertension and controlling blood urea, and the ethanolic bark extract is used against Ophiophagus hannah venom due to its antivenom properties. Various bioactive constituents, including saponins, tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, terpenoids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, lipids, fixed oils, resin and phenolic components are present in different plant parts of C. macleodii. Stem and leaf extracts of C. macleodii contain phytoconstituents like Stigmasterol, Cholest-5-EN-3OL (3β)-Carbonyl chlorinated, Campesterol and 3, 4-dihydroxy-5-methoxybenzoic acid.