Traditional utilization and phytochemical analysis of medicinal herb Exacum Linn. from central Western Ghats

In the present study, we focused on the traditional utilization and phytochemical screening of Exacum Linn., a traditional medicinal herb in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. There are five species of Exacum viz., E. bicolor, E. pedunculatum, E. lawii, E. carniatum and E. pluminum reported from Western Ghats of Karnataka. Exacum species were used to treat fever, dysentery, sore throat in addition to treat cough, body pain and eye diseases. Analysis of methanol and aqueous extracts showed the presence of phytochemicals such as flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids