Phytochemistry and Pharmacological aspects of Murraya koenigii Linn.

Murraya koenigii Linn. is small shrub tree, native to tropical Asia from Himalaya foothill's of India to Srilanka eastward through Myanmar, Indonesia, Southern China and Hainan. In India it occurs in foothill of Himalaya, Assam, Sikkim, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. It is an important herb which is been used for centuries in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. The leaves of plant are use as tonic, stomachic, carminative, internally in dysentery also checking vomiting. Murraya koenigii Linn. are used as flavorings, condiment and folk medicine for the treatment of various metabolic and infectious diseases. Leaves,fruits, roots and bark of the plant are a rich source of carbazole alkaloids which posses various pharmacological activities such as antitumor, antiviral, antiinflammatory, antipyretic, antimicrobial, antidibetic, antihypertensive, inotropic effect, hypolipedemic, antiulcer,antidiarrhoeal, antioxidant, anthelmintic, analgesic, antifungal, hepatoprotective, antiasthmatic,antiamnesic, immunomodulator, phagocytic, radioprotective, anticholinesterse, wound-healing nephroprotective, antitrichomonal, antipyretic, antiosteoporotic, antiprotozoal, larvicidal activity, apoptosis in human leukemic cells, trypsin inhibitor, corrosion inhibitor, skin protective, seed protective,and cure piles. It is also effective against colon carcinogensis. The various parts of this plant are widely used by different tribal communities. Following various claims for cure the numerous diseases, efforts have been made by researchers to verify the efficacy of the plant through scientific biological screening. The present review is an attempt to highlight various phytochemical and pharmacological reports of Murraya koenigii Linn.