TREATMENT OF VARIOUS DISEASES BY CARISSA SPINARUM L. – A PROMISING SHRUB

Carissa spinarum L.  is  a  small  spinous  evergreen  shrub  growing throughout  India  in  dry  regions.The plant used locally in Indian and Chinese system of medicines to cure various diseases. Carissa spinarum has also been used in the Ayurvedic medical system because of its therapeutic effects against liver disease, epileptic disease, microbial disease, cytotoxic, viral diseases.The isolated metabolites and crude extract have exhibited a wide of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effect, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticonvulsant, anticancer, antiarthritic, antihelmintic, cytotoxic activity. A chemical study of this plant was then initiated, and this led to the isolation of 12 compounds, including a coumarin, two cardiac glycosides and nine lignans. These isolated compounds were evaluated for several biological activities, including antiherpetic, cytotoxic, antioxidant and antibacterial effects.A shrub, Carissa spinarum have emerged as a good source of the traditional medicines for the treatment of inflammation, arthritis, microbial infection, epilepsy, viral infection, cancer disease. Pharmacological results have validated the use of this species in the traditional medicines. Some bioassays are difficult reproduce because the plant materials used have not been well identified; therefore analytical protocol and standardization of extracts should be established prior to biological evaluation. Root, stem and leaf of this shrub should receive more attention. Expansion of research materials would provide more opportunities for the discovery of new bioactive principles from the Carissa spinarum.