Hygrophila auriculata (K.

Schum) Heine: Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology / Asian Journal of Traditional Medicines, 2010, 5 (4)

Reviews

Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine: Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology

Md. Sarfaraj Hussain a *, Sheeba Fareed a, Mohd. Ali b
b

Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Lucknow 226026. India; Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India.
a

Abstract The plant Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine, (Acanthaceae), has been traditionally used for the treatment of inflammation, pain, urinary infection, edema, gout and as a diuretic. It is described in ayurvedic literature as Ikshura, Ikshugandha, and Kokilasha having eyes like the Kokila or Indian Cuckoo. The plant is widely distributed throughout India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Malaysia and Nepal. Following various folk claims as a cure for numerous diseases, efforts have been made by researchers to verify the efficacy of the plant by scientific biological screening. The plant contains saponins, alkaloids, steroids, tannins, flavonoids and triterpenoids are the main phytoconstituents. A scrutiny of literature revealed some notable pharmacological effects like anti-nociceptive, antitumor, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, haematinic, diuretic, free radical scavenging, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anabolic and androgenic activities. The present review is an attempt to highlight the various ethanobotanical and traditional uses as well as phytochemical and pharmacological reports about Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine. Key words: Hygrophila auriculata; phytochemistry; pharmacological activities

Introduction
Herbal medicines have been used in medical practice for thousands of years and are recognized especially as a valuable and readily available healthcare resource. During the past decades, the contribution of herbal medicines and their preparations has attracted much interest in the pharmaceutical industry. However, most herbal medicines still need to be investigated scientifically, although the experience obtained from their traditional use over the

* Author to whom should be addressed. Address: Md. Sarfaraj Hussain, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Dasauli, Kurshi road, Lucknow-26, Uttar Pradesh. India; Mobile no: +91-9889902496; Email: sarfarajpharma@gmail.com Received: 2010-02-12 Accepted: 2010-06-24

years should not be ignored [1, 2]. Botanical drugs and dietary supplements may be obtained from a broader variety of plants than those normally present in the human diet. Botanicals or phytopharmaceuticals are very suitable for prophylactic use in order to prevent diseases and also to maintain our normal wellbeing. The screening and evaluation of medicinal plants is very dependent on the proper cultivation and collection of the plant materials followed by their extraction and isolation of the phytochemical entities to enable optimized bioactive compound production and subsequent therapeutic applications. This is very important for multi-component drugs and their standardized extracts to ensure high quality and batchto-batch consistency [3]. The Indian subcontinent is the site of one of the oldest civilizations, and it has seen the development of many traditional health

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care systems. Their development was supported by the great biodiversity in flora and fauna due to variations in geography and climate [4]. This review aims at describing the traditional uses, phytochemical profiles and therapeutic potential of various parts of Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine, which has been used in traditional practice for many years. Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine (synonym: Asteracantha longifolia Nees, Barleria auriculata schum, Barleria longifolia linn) Acanthaceae, is a wild herb commonly found in moist places on the banks of rivers, ditches and paddy fields throughout India, The plants are described in the ayurvedic literature as Ikshura, Ikshagandha and Kokilasha having eyes like the kokila or the Indian cuckoo. It is classified in the ayurvedic system of medicine as Seethaveryam, mathuravipaka and is used for the treatment of a number of conditions including Premeham (diabetes) and athisaram (dysentery) [5, 6].

scalerous, margins are minutely dentate, subsessile, and the thorns are strong, straight or curved. Flowers occur in axillary whorls, bract and bracteoles are leafy. The calyx is four-lobed, and the lobes are unequal. Corolla, -5 petals gamopetalous, unequally 2-lipped, middle lobe of the lower lip with a yellow palate; corolla purple coloured. Stamens - four, in two pairs, filaments unequal; anthers divergent; ovary two celled; four ovules in each cell. The fruit is in the form of dehiscent capsules [5].

Ethanobotanical uses
A survey of the ethanobotanical literature shows that the roots, seeds, and aerial parts of the plant are widely used in the traditional system of medicine for the treatment of jaundice, hepatic obstruction, rheumatism, inflammation, pain, urinary infection, edema, gout, malaria, and impotence and also as an aphrodisiac [7].

Description of Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine

The plant is a sub shrub, usually growing in marshy places along water courses. The stem is reddish brown and the shoot has 8 leaves and six thorns at each node (Fig. 1. A, B). The leaves occur in whorls, the outer pair of leaves are larger, lanceolate,

Pharmacognosy studies
A detailed pharmacognosy studies of all parts of Hygrophila auriculata ( K. Schum) Heine has been carried out by Hussain et al., 2009 (Communicated) [8].

Leaf

Fig. 1. (A, B) Exomorphic features of the plant. Shoots showing axillary flowers, throns, and cluster leaves.

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The leaf is dorsiventral, smooth and even with a fairly prominent midrib. The midrib is Plano convex in a sectional view with a flat adaxial side and a broad semicircular abaxial side. The midrib is 750 m along the median vertical plane and 1 m in the horizontal plane. In the adaxial part, the epidermis is prominent with squarish cells and a prominent cuticle. Beneath the epidermis there are about three layers of small collenchyma cells. Further below the collenchyma are four or five layers of wide thin walled parenchyma cells. The abaxial part of the midrib has an epidermis similar to the adaxial side. These may be one or two layers of collenchyma inner to the abaxial epidermis. The remaining ground tissue consists of wide, compact, thin walled parenchyma cells. The vascular bundle is single and elliptical in crosssection. It is 350 m horizontally and 150 m vertically. It consists of 8-10, parallel rows of xylem elements which are angular, thin walled and narrow. Phloem occurs as a thin sheath along the abaxial side of the xylem. There are two small, less prominent, circular accessory strands on the adaxial part. They are circular with a cluster of xylem elements and a small nest of phloem elements.

of small, lobed cells which are interlinked with each other forming a wide region of aeranchymatous tissue. The adaxial epidermis is 30 m thick while the abaxial epidermis is 20 m thick; both are stomatiferous.

Cystoliths
Calcium carbonate crystals of cystoliths are abundant in the adaxial epidermis of the leaf. The cystoliths are long, spindle shaped, straight or curved with a warty surface. They are 200 m long and 20 m thick. They occur is specialized cells which are elongated and candle-like; these modified cells in which the cystoliths are found are called lithocysts.

Stomata
These occur on both surfaces of the leaf. They are equal in abundance and frequency in the upper and lower sides. The stomata frequency is 45-50/m2. The stomata are predominantly diacytic with two subsidiary cells with their common walls at right angles to the stomatal axis. The subsidiary cells may be equal or unequal in size. The epidermal cells are variable in shape; they are narrow, rectangular, slightly lobed or squarish. Their anticlinal walls are fairly thick, straight or slightly undulated.

Lamina
The lamina is uniform in thickness except where the lateral vein and veinlets are situated. The lateral view is raised slightly on the adaxial and abaxial sides. It consists of a small top-shaped collateral vascular bundle surrounded by parenchymatous cells which extend both adaxially and abaxially. The lateral vein is 400 m thick. The veinlets also project slightly on the lower side. They have a small cluster of xylem and phloem with a parenchymatous bundle sheath without extensions. The mesophyll is differentiated into an adaxial zone of palisade cells and an abaxial zone of spongy mesophyll tissue. The palisade zone consists of a single row of thin pillar-like cells which are 100m in height. The spongy mesophyll has four or five layers

Petiole
In cross-sectional view, the petiole is wide flat and boat-shaped. The adaxial side is flat and the abaxial side is convex. The petiole has lateral, thick, abaxially hanging wings on either side. The vascular system consists of a flat wide main bundle and two wing bundles. The main bundle is located in the control part of the petiole. It is flat measuring 950 m long and 250 m thick. It consists of several short, radial rows of xylem elements, with 2 or 3 elements in each row; they are angular to circular and thick-walled. Phloem is found beneath the xylem strands. The wing bundles are circular, nearly 150 m in diameter with four or five short rows of xylem elements and a small patch of phloem. The ground tissue is homogeneous and

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parenchymatous. The cells are wide, circular, thinwalled and compact.

Stem
The stem is roughly four angled in sectional view with a wide arenchymatous cortex and four angled stele. The epidermis is thin and less conspicuous. The outer cortex consists of four or five layers of radially aligned, small, compact squarish parenchyma cells. This zone is uniformly 150 m wide. The inner cortex in much wider, about five rows wide and circular air chambers are formed by reticulate layers of narrow aerenchyma cells. The stele has four semicircular thicker bundles located at four corners and two smaller bundles positioned opposite each other. The larger and smaller bundles are interlinked by a thin cylinder of small compact, dense xylem elements. The vascular bundles are collateral with dense xylem fibers, widely separated radial rows of xylem vessels and a thin arc of phloem. The pith is wide and parenchymatous while the pith cells are circular, less compact and thinwalled.

Bairaj and Nagarajan (1982) isolated apigenin 7-O-glucuronide from the flowers of Asteracantha longifolia along with traces of apigenin 7-O-glucoside [9]. (See Fig. 2)

Alkaloids
Parashar and Harikishan Singh (1964) isolated an alkaloidal fraction from the alcoholic extract of the aerial parts of Asteracantha longifolia. Two alkaloids, asteracanthine and asteracanthicine, were reported from the seeds [10].

Triterpenes
Govindachari et al., (1957) reported the presence of lupeol in the roots leaves and stem, and a hydrocarbon, hentricontane, in the leaves and stems [11]. Betulin was isolated from the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Asteracantha longifolia [12]. Nair et al., (1965) reported the presence of luteolin and luteolin-7- Orutinoside in the leaves of Asteracantha longifolia [13].

Aliphatic esters
Misra et al., (2001) isolated two aliphatic esters, 25-oxo-hentriacontyl acetate and methyl 8-n-hexyltetracosanoate, from the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Asteracantha longifolia [12].

Root
The root has an intact, continuous rhizodermis (epidermis) followed by two layers of tangentially oblong compact outer cortex. The inner cortex is wide and aerenchymatous. Wide, radially elongated air-chambers are formed by thin, uniserate partition filaments, made up of thin-walled parenchyma cells. Some of the partition cells have thick walls and are dilated and squarish rectangular. The vascular cylinder has a thin endodermal layer and a pericyclic layer. The xylem consists of five exarch strands and a few wide angular vessels in between the exarch strands. The phloem is in five small groups alternating with the primary xylem strands. The central part is narrow and parenchymatous.

Sterols
Quasim and Dutta (1967) reported the presence of stigmasterol in the roots of Asteracantha longifolia [14].

Minerals
Choudhary and Bandyopadhyay (1998) reported a high concentration of Fe, Cu, and Co in all organs of Hygrophila spinosa . Thanki and Thaker (1980) studied the amino acid composition of the seeds of Hygrophila auriculata and reported that the seed proteins of Hygrophila auriculata contained all the essential amino acids and were comparable with those of groundnut protein [15].

Phytochemistry
Flavonoids

Essential oils

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H H H H

H H

OH OH

H of Traditional H Journal Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine: Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology / Asian Medicines, 2010, 5 (4) HO OH

OH

HO

H H H H HO H

OH H

OH

[1] [1]

OH

OH

HO

[2]H [2] H
H H H H OH OH O O

OH H

OH

[1]

[1]
[1]

OH

OH

HO

HO

[2]

[2]

[1] [3] [3]

[1]

OH OH [2] H O O O O O O OH OH OH OH OH H OH H OH O OH O OH OH H H [2] [2] OH OH H H O O O OO O OH OH [4] [4] OH OH H OH OH OH OH H OH O H H OH O H OH O O [4] O O OH OH OH OH OH H OH H H H H OH O H

[4]

[3]

OH OH O HO HO O

[3]

[3]

[4] O
OH OH

O O O OH OH OH O OH O OH OH O O [3] [3] HO HO HO HO OH OH O OH OH O O O O O OH [5] OH O OH O OH [5] OH [5] O HO HO OH O HO OH HO OH O OHO OH O O HO O OH [5] O [7] O

[4]
HO HO
[6]

[4]

[6] [6]

HO

HO (CH 2) 14(CH 2) 14

[5] OH

O OH OH
[8]

[6]

[6]

HO HO (K.Schum) Heine [1] [8] [7] OH [7] Fig. 2. Structures of some phytoconstituents isolated from Hygrophila auriculata Lupeol [[8] 2] Betulin [3] HO OH OH7-O-glucoside [5] Apigenin 7-O-glucuronide and [6] Stimagsterol [7] 25-Oxo-hentriacontyl acetate [8] Methyl Leutolin [4]O Apigenin O OH 8-n-hexyltetracosanoate.

aerial parts of Asteracantha longifolia and tested for The folk and traditional uses of the plant will now [10] antibacterial activity . glucuronide and [6] Stimagsterol [7] 25-oxo-hentriacontyl acetate [8] methyl glucuronide and [6] Stimagsterol [7] 25-oxo-hentriacontyl acetate [8] methyl 8-nin - 8-nbe discussed. It has been investigated scientifically animal models to validate the potential of the plant

2. Structures of phytoconstituents some phytoconstituents isolated from Hygrophila auriculata (K.Schum) FigureFigure 2. Structures of some isolated from Hygrophila auriculata (K.Schum) [5] [6] [5] [6] Essential oils were from the root and Pharmacological screening [1] isolated Lupeol [2] Betulin [3] Leutolin [4] apigenin 7-Oglucoside [5] apigenin Heine Heine [1] Lupeol [2] Betulin [3] Leutolin [4] apigenin 7-O- glucoside [5] apigenin 7-O- 7-O-

hexyltetracosanoate. hexyltetracosanoate.

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as a treatment for a variety of ailments. Both aqueous and alcoholic extract have an LD50 of 4 g/kg, while the extract has an LD50 of 3019.95 mg/kg p.o [16].

Hepatoprotective activity
A methanolic extract of the seeds of Hygrophila auriculata at a dose of 200 mg/kg/p.o exhibited potent hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol- and thioacetamide-induced liver damage in rats [17]. Shanmugasundram et al., (2005) showed that an aqueous extract of the roots of Hygrophila auriculata (K.Schum) Heine at a dose of 150 mg/kg/p.o exhibited potent hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats [18]. Hewawasam et al., (2003) tested the aqueous extract of Asteracantha longifolia for hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride- and paracetamolinduced acute hepatotoxicity in mice. The plant exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity by reducing carbon tetrachloride- and paracetamolinduced changes in liver enzymes. The plant extract may interfere with free radical formation, which may account for the hepatoprotective action. Asteracantha longifolia showed significant hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride and paracetamol, comparable with standard drugs used for this purpose [19]. The Asteracantha longifolia whole plant slurry was tested against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver dysfunction in rats. The plant exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity by reducing carbon tetrachloride-induced changes in biochemical parameters of hepatic enzyme activity. The whole plant slurry of Asteracantha longifolia exhibited significant hepatoprotective efficacy against carbon tetrachloride, comparable with a known hepatoprotectant, silymarin [20].

showed that the seeds significantly affected the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase and catalase, in a dose-dependent manner [21]. Mazumdar et al., (1997) reported that the petroleum ether extract of the root of Hygrophila spinosa exhibited anti-tumour activity in mice with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and sarcoma-180 [22]. The hydroalcohlic extract of the whole plant of Hygrophila spinosa, at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight, showed significant anti-tumour activity against 7, 12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumours in female rats comparable with a standard drug, tamoxifen [16].

Hypoglycemic activity
Fernando et al., (1991) carried out preliminary investigations of the hypoglycaemic activity of aqueous extracts of the whole plant of Asteracantha longifolia and found that the extract significantly lowers the fasting blood glucose level and markedly improves the glucose tolerance of rats at a therapeutic dose equivalent to 5 g/kg of the starting material [23]. An ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Hygrophila auriculata, at a dose of 100 and 250 mg/kg body weight for 3 weeks, produced a significant reduction in blood glucose, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and hydroperoxide in both liver and kidney in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Treatment with an ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Hygrophila auriculata significantly increased glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) levels compared with the control group. An ethanolic extract of Hygrophila auriculata given to glibenclamide-treated rats also produced a decrease in lipid peroxidation associated with increased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. The result of this study showed that an ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Hygrophila auriculata possesses significant antidiabetic activity along with a potent antioxidant activity in models of diabetes [24].

Anti-tumor activity
Ahmed et al., (2001) reported the anti-tumor activity of seeds of Asteracantha longifolia against experimental hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. They also

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Antioxidant activity
Sunilkumar and Klausmuller (1999) screened 28 different plant species of Nepalese medicinal plants, including seeds of Asteracantha longifolia, used traditionally to treat inflammatory diseases for an inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation and reported that the plant inhibited lipid peroxidation with an IC50 Value of 20 g/ml [25].

Free radical scavenging activity

The free radical scavenging potential of aqueous, alcoholic and other fractions of the whole plant of Hygrophila auriculata (K.schum) Heine has been evaluated using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), deoxyribose degradation against OH, nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation radical assays. Vitamin E was used as a standard in the study [26]. The results obtained showed that the n-butanol fraction exhibited potent free radical scavenging activity in a dosedependent manner which was comparable with the standard, Vitamin E.

canis and Trichophyton mentagraphytes , while the stem exhibited activity against Candida albicans, Mycobacterium canis and Trichophyton mentagraphytes [28]. The antibacterial activity of petroleum ether, chloroform, alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Hygrophila spinosa against Escherachia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeroginosa was examined using discdiffusion methods [29]. The chloroform and alcoholic extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity, whereas the aqueous extract has moderate activity and the petroleum ether extract had the weakest activity against these microorganisms.

Anthelmintic activity
The anthelmintic activity of petroleum ether, chloroform, alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Hygrophila spinosa was studied against Pherithima posthuma as a test worm, at different concentrations (10-100 mg/ml) in a bioassay which involved determination of the time until paralysis and time until death of the worms. The alcoholic extract showed significant anthelmintic activity at the highest concentration, 100 mg/ml, whereas chloroform and the aqueous extract were only moderately active and the petroleum ether extract exhibited the weakest anthelmintic activity [29].

Antibacterial activity
Boily and Vampuyvelde (1986) examined the antimicrobial activity of an ethanolic extract of the leaves, stem, fruits and root of Hygrophila auriculata against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Escherachia coli, Candida albicans and Mycobacterium smegmatis and reported that the leaves exhibited potent anti-microbial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans and Mycobacterium smegmatis [27]. Vlientick et al . (1995) investigated the antimicrobial properties of an ethanolic extract of the leaves, stem, fruits and root of Hygrophila auricalata against Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Esterachia coli, Candida albicans, Tricophyton mentagraphytes and Mycobacterium canis and reported that the leaves exhibited active anti-microbial activity against Staphylococcus a u re u s , C a n d i d a a l b i c a n s , M y c o b a c t e r i u m

CNS activity
Mazumdar et al. (1999) carried out a chemical investigation of the petroleum ether extract of the root of Hygrophila spinosa and reported for the presence of active constituents like lupeol and lupenone. They also reported that the i.p. administration of the crude petroleum ether extract in mice potentiates the sedative-hypnotic action of chlorpromazine, diazepam, phenobarbitone, chlordiazepoxide and protects against strychnine-induced convulsions [30].

Haematinic effect
The ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Hygrophila

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spinosa , at a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg (p.o.), significantly increased the haemoglobin, haematocrit, and RBC count in anaemic male rats indicating the haematinic effect of the extract [31].

Diuretic activity
The diuretic potential of the aqueous, alcoholic extract and different fractions of the alcoholic extract of the whole plant of Hygrophila auriculata (K.schum) Heine was evaluated using methods described by Lipschitz et al ., (1943). The diuretic effect was examined by treating different groups of Wistar albino rats with single (200 mg/kg) oral doses of alcoholic extract/fractions. Furosemide (10 mg/kg) was used as positive control in the study. Of the different fractions, the n-butanol fraction (200 mg/kg) markedly increased the urine output. The pattern of diuresis induced by the n-butanol fraction was almost identical to that produced by furosemide [32].

Anti-nociceptive activity
Shanmugasundram et al., (2005) found that the aqueous extract of the aerial parts and roots of Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine, at a dose of 200 mg/kg (p.o.), exhibited potent antinociceptive activity in a mouse model of thermally induced analgesia [33]. The petroleum ether, choloroform, alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders (Acanthaceae) were screened for analgesic activity. Analgesic activity was studied by hot plate and tail flick tests in the thermal method, while the acetic acid-induced writhing test was used in the chemical method. The chloroform, alcoholic and aqueous extracts, at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, significantly inhibited the abdominal constriction produced by acetic acid and also increased the pain threshold of mice to the thermal source in a dose-dependent manner comparable with the standard drug, aspirin (100 mg/kg body weight) [34].

Patra et al., (2009) examined the antiinflammatory and antipyretic activity of the petroleum ether, chloroform, alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the leaves of the Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders. The anti-inflammatory activity of the various extracts was studied based on their effects on carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats while the antipyretic activity was evaluated on the basis of their effect on Brewer s yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. The chloroform and alcoholic extracts of leaves of Hygrophila spinosa exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities in a dose-dependent manner while the petroleum ether and aqueous extracts did not have any significant anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities. The maximum anti-inflammatory activities were produced by the chloroform and alcoholic extracts at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight [32]. Patra et al., (2009) reported the antipyretic activity of the alcoholic extract of the leaves and roots of Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders using Brewers yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. Both the extracts, at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, significantly reduced the increase in rectal temperature and they also exhibited potent antipyretic activity in an animal model [35].

Antimotility activity
The antimotility activity was studied by the charcoal meal feeding method and atropine sulphate, at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg (i.p.), was used as the standard comparator drug. The alcoholic extract of the leaves of Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders, at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight, significantly decreased the distance travelled by the charcoal meal through the gastrointestinal tract suggesting that the extract exhibited antimotility activity [34].

Conclusion
In recent years, the ethnobotanical and traditional uses of natural compounds, especially those of plant origin, have received much attention since these

Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity

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compounds are often very effective and generally believed to be safe for human use. The studies concentrated on phytochemical investigations, biological evaluations using experimental animal models and toxicity studies, as well as the investigation of molecular mechanisms of action of the isolated phytoprinciples and their testing in clinical trials. A survey of the published literature about Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine showed that it is a popular remedy used by a variety of ethnic groups, vaidyas, Hakim and Ayurvedic practioners to treat a variety of ailments. However, despite claims by traditional medicine practitioners, little effort has been made by researchers to explore the therapeutic potential of this plant. Even today, plants remain the main source of drugs for a majority of the worlds population [36]. Therefore, scientists have a duty to provide effective, safe and cheap drugs, especially for use in rural areas. Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine is widely distributed and used in traditional medicine by different cultures in India, Sri lanka, Burma, Malaysia, and Nepal. Modern pharmacological studies have generally confirmed the traditional uses of Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine and their extracts for the treatment of a variety of conditions. The pharmacological studies so far have mostly been performed in vitro and in vivo with animals. Therefore, clinical studies are urgently needed in order to confirm traditional applications using rational phytotherapy. It is interesting to note that the earlier scientific investigations of this plant, Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine, showed the crude extracts exhibited analgesic, antitumor, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, haematinic, diuretics, free radical scavenging, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anabolic and androgenic properties. However, naturally occurring terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids and alkaloids, are unique phytoconstitiuents of the genous Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine. But there is no direct scientific evidence of

the effect of these phytoconstitiuents regarding their biological potentials. In future studies, the isolated phytoprinciples from Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine need to be evaluated in a scientific manner using specific experimental animal models and clinical trials are required to understand the molecular mechanisms of action, to identify potential lead compounds for further development.

Acknowledgement
We are grateful to the Dr. K. F. H. Nazeer Ahamed, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Vels College of Pharmacy, Chennai, for his assistance and encouragement. We extend our sincere thanks to Mr. Md. Zaheen Hassan Ansari, research scholar, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, for critically reading the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions.

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