TRADESCANTIA ZEBRINA: A PROMISING MEDICINAL PLANT

Tradescantia zebrina Heynh. ex Bosse syn. Zebrina pendula Schnizl. (Family- Commelinaceae), commonly known as 'Wandering Jew' is an important medicinal plant with several traditional medicinal uses in many countries around the world. Previous reports on the plant have demonstrated significant pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, antitrypanosomal, antiarrythmic and larvicidal activity against Anopheles benarrochi. However, only a few phytoconstituents have been reported by previous researchers. T. zebrina is a valuable source of traditional medicine for treating kidney diseases. The plant needs additional research attention because of its wide ethnomedicinal applications and reports on promising biological activities. The present paper compiles the information available from all possible scientific sources which may help the researchers to explore the possible biological activities of this relatively less known plant. Keywords: Tradescantia zebrina, Traditional uses, Phytochemistry, Bioactivity