MEDICO ETHNOBOTANICAL PERSPECTIVES OF JYOTISMATI (CELASTRUS PANICULATUS WILLD): A HERBAL TRANQUILIZER

The primary objectives of the present study is to find out and documentation of various medico ethnobotanical claims of jyotismati from different tribal population throughout the India and to make a valuable discussion on the modern evaluation of the drug. Jyotismati (Celastrus paniculatus Willd.) is a woody climber of vedic lore. In several studies seed oil was screened for its sedative and tranquillizing properties. But the tribal claims of other parts of jyotismati are yet to be studied. The plant jyotismati is used throughout the tribal population of India for wound healing, cough, insomnia, opium poisoning. The details of medico ethnobotanical aspect of the plant jyotismati and the recent researches carrying out on the plant clearly indicate that jyotismati plays a key role in the healthcare system of India. Modern researches are revalidating the tribal uses of jyotismati. The indiscriminate use of seed and fruits may lead for its inclusion to the endangered list. So in search of its substitution the leaf and bark should be thoroughly studied experimentally and clinically. Now research regarding the other parts of this plant (stem bark, root, leaf ) is required to establish the useful therapeutic profile of the whole plant and t o prove the ethnobotanical claims. A