KSHEERVIDARI (IPOMOEA DIGITATA L.) AN UNDERUTILISED MEDICINAL PLANT – AN UPDATE

Ksheervidari is a climber having beautiful pink coloured trumpet shaped flowers and a tuberous root system considered to be medicinal, belongs to the family Convolvulaceae. It has been used by people in various parts of the world for its medicinal as well as nutraceutical potential. It is naturalized in many parts of the world and is cultivated for its tubers and sometimes for its ornamental value. From time immemorial it is being used to cure several body ailments and particularly the tuber powder is consumed in different ways by both men and women as a revitalizer, health promoter, immune booster etc. Besides it is antidiabetic, antihypertensive, galactogogue, antioxidant as well as antimicrobial. Several phytochemicals having pharmacological properties have isolated from this plant. The present study is a review of botanical aspects, pharmacognosy, ethanobotany, cultivation, economics, phytochemistry, medicinal uses and nutraceutical potential.