THERAPEUTIC EXPLOIT AND RELEVANCE OF MARTYNIA ANNUA LINN: AN INTRICATE ASSESSMENT

Martynia annua Linn. or Martynia diandra Gloxin is a herbaceous plant belonging to the family Martyniaceae. It is usually recognized as "Devil's claw" or "Cat's claw". It is abundantly found in the Tropical and Subtropical regions of America. It was first found in Mexico and since then has been naturalized in many countries. The herb is cultivated to be used as an ornamental and a medicinal plant. The entire plant contains a substantial amount of biologically active constituents that have been reported to show potentially significant pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anticonvulsant. Therefore, the herb is widely used in traditional systems of medicines. The most common constituents found all over the plant are alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, proteins, amino acids, phenols, steroids, anthocyanins, and carbohydrates. Researchers have demonstrated that the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds are associated with bioactivities like antioxidant activity which is greatly beneficial for maintaining good health. Another important constituent identified with the plant is luteolin, which is responsible for wound healing activity. However, the studies of these pharmacological activities are inadequate and further research will be required for the determination of the benefits as well as the toxic effects of the plant. This article provides an assessment of the various phytochemical and pharmacological activities of Martynia annua Linn.