A review on gall karkatshringi

Karkatasringi (Pistacia integerrima) is a well known medicinal plant which belongs to the family of Anacardiaceae. The plant is indigenous to India and is found in the outer ranges of the North-Western Himalayas at an altitude of 500 to 2500 m. The different parts of the plant like leaf, bark, root and galls are reported to contain the secondary metabolites. Among them, the galls are more used in folk medicines. They are used in various Ayurvedic formulation like the “Dasamularista”, “Chayavanaprasa” and “Shringyadi curna” which are used in the treatment of diseases like swasa (asthma), yakshma (tuberculosis), ajeerna (indigestion), hridyaroga (heart disease), jwara (fever) and yakrit roga (liver disorder). The secondary metabolites like alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids and flavonoids are reported in the galls. Beside them, minor constituents like crystalline hydrocarbon, gum mastic, resinous substance, crystalline acids are also present. The bark contains terpenoids and flavonoids. The root and leaves contain tannins and terpenoids. Tannin being the major chemical constituent shows the strongest astringent action of the plant. The effect of the plant is due to the presence of these different secondary metabolites that are responsible for pharmacological activities. The aim of this review is to highlight the description of plant in classical literature of Ayurveda as well as therapeutic properties and chemical constituents.