A review of Phytochemical and biological studies of Diospyros malabarica

Diospyros malabarica can be seen mostly as trees and rarely shrubs are used in folk medicine for various purposes. Various bioactive compounds were isolated from this plant. Roots contain dihydroflavonol glycoside 5, 7, 3, 5’ ? tetra hydroxyl ? 3’ ? methoxy flavones, 4’?O- a-L?rharmnopyranoside, leaves contain triterpenes, anthrocyanin , fruits contain lup-20 (29)-3n-3a, 27-diol-29, lup-20 (29)-3n-3ß-diol-29, taraxerone, sitosterol, gallic acid, peregrinol, fruit pulp contain hexacosane, hexacosanol, ß-sitosterol, monohydroxy triterpene ketone, betulin, ß-Dglycoside of ß-sitosterol, betulinic acid, methyl ester acetate, methylester B-D-glycoside of ß-sitosterol. These days Diospyros malabarica is being explored as antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anti-diarrheal, antiviral, antiprotozoal, anthelmintic and cytotoxic agent to cure cancer. Present review has been focused on phytochemical and biological studies of Diospyros malabarica, which are being used in folklore medicines