Premna resinosa
From Wikiwel
Other Names : mukarakara The genus Premna L. (Verbenaceae), with 200 species worldwide, is distributed chiefly in tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Islands (Thirumalai et al. 2011). Premna resinosa (Hochst.) Schauer grows as shrub, small bushy tree, or subscandent and the inflorescence is few-flowered terminal with very short side shoots (Verdcourt 1992).
Health Benefits and uses of Premna resinosa
- Some Premna species are considered as natural resources for antimicrobial, antioxidant, antipyretic, hypoglycaemic, cardiotonic, and diuretic agents (Hymavathi et al. 2009).
- In Indian folk medicine, P. resinosa leaves were used as laxative agent (Patel et al. 2013) and to treat bronchitis.
- In addition to the above the stem paste of P. resinosa was used to cure swellings and body pains (Joshi et al. 2013).
- In Kenya it is called ‘small rib plant or mukarakara’ and it is used to treat convulsions of the rib cage (Pakia, 2006) and for the management of respiratory illness (Njeru et al. 2015).
- P. resinosa has high selective potential as a source of novel lead for antituberculous, antibacterial and antifungal drugs. Of particular relevance is high activity against MRSA, S. aureus, C. albicans and MTB which are great public health challenge due to drug resistance development and as major sources of community and hospital based infections.
- P. resinosa had high antituberculous activity with a MIC of <6.25 μg/ml in ethyl acetate fraction. The antibacterial activity was high and broad spectrum, inhibiting both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.
