REVIEW ON SWERTIA CHIRATA AS TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

Many herbs are recognized to have medicinal properties and many beneficial effects on health. Swertia chirata is one such herb, belonging to the family Gentianaceae, it also has many potential health benefits. It has been reported to have several pharmacological effect such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and analgesics. Humans, from very long times have been using traditional medicinal plants. Traditional plants play a very important role in preventing and treating human diseases. Medicinal usage of Swertia chirata is reported in Indian pharmaceutical codex, the American and British pharmacopoeias and in different traditional systems of medicine (Unani, Ayurveda and Siddha). Swertia chirata is commonly known as a bitter tonic in the area of traditional medicine, due to the presence of many bioactive components, it tastes bitter but directly associated with human health welfare like used for the treatment of fever, loss of appetite, digestive disorders, diabetes, skin affections and various other diseases.