Phytochemistry, pharmacology and traditional uses of Leptadenia pyrotechnica- An important medicinal plant

Traditional Systems of medicines always played important role in the global health. In the traditional health medicinal plants providing a new areas of drug research. The demand for plant based medicines, food supplement, health prod ucts, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics are increasing in both developing and developed countri es due to the growing recognition that the natural products are non toxic, have less side effe cts and easily available. Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forsk.) commonly known as Kheep belonging to family Asclepiadaceae. Leptadenia pyrotechnica leafless much branched shrub. All parts of Leptadenia pyrotechnica are used in traditional medicines. The present arti cle gives an account of updated information on its phytochemistry pharmacological properties. E thnomedical uses say to possess significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibac terial, anthelmentic, antilipoxygenase, cytotoxic, antitumour, hypolipidemic and anti ather osclerotic activity. The present review contains wide number of isolated chemical constitue nts and various ethnomedical and traditional uses of Leptadenia pyrotechnica . It include information about historical background, conceptual basis, different disciplines studied in the systems, research and development aspects, drug manufacturing aspects and impact of globalization.