REVIEW ON LEUCAS ASPERA

Leucas aspera, generally referred to as ‘Thumbai,’ has a widespread presence across India, stretching from the Himalayan region to Ceylon. Traditionally, this plant has been employed for its properties in reducing fever and as an insect repellent. In the realm of medicine, it has been scientifically demonstrated to exhibit a range of pharmacological effects, including antifungal, antioxidant, antimicrobial, pain-relieving, and cytotoxic capabilities. Further investigations have identified the existence of a diverse array of phytochemical elements, prominently triterpenoids, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, b-sitosterol, nicotine, sterols, glucoside, diterpenes, and phenolic compounds such as 4-(24-hydroxy-1-oxo-5-n-propyltetracosanyl)-phenol. These investigations highlight that L. aspera functions as a reservoir of medicinally beneficial compounds with diverse pharmacological actions; consequently, this medicinal resource inspires the exploration of its potential therapeutic applications.