PHYTOCHEMISTRY, ETHNOBOTANICAL VALUES & PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF Enhydra fluctuans Lour: A POTENTIAL COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Medicinal plants are being used worldwide since ancient times and becoming a part of complementary medicine because of their health benefits. Medicinal plants have been successfully used directly for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases or indirectly by stimulating the immune system. Enhydra fluctuans Lour belongs to the family of Asteraceae, an important medicinal plant which is widely available in India especially in North-Eastern region. This plant is a common edible plant with a sound ethno-botanical application in India and South-East Asia. Enhydra fluctuans has gained attention in Ayurveda for its pharmacological properties and therapeutic potential. Solvent extract and bio-active phytonutrients of E. fluctuans exhibits anti-oxidant, anti-diarrheal, anti-microbial, anti- cancer, neuro protective and other biological activities. The presence of bio-active compounds in E. fluctuans such as phenol, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols, tannins, carbohydrates and essential oils provide strongly contribution to its medicinal properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview on Enhydra fluctuans L., with a special highlight to its botanical characteristics, phytochemicals composition, pharmacological activities that will help to predict ways in future investigation for identification of new biologically active compounds and its medicinal role in therapeutic field.