Studies on medical potential of various swertia species found in Kashmir valley

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to explore the medicinal potential of Swertia peliolata newlineand Swertia tetragona the univestigated species in Kashmir These species have been used traditionally and regionally for various ailments by local healers The entire plant of Swertia petiolata is used in Tibetan medicine for its cooling potency antiinflammatory activity as febrifuge and liver tonic In Kashmir the rhizome o f the perennial herb is used traditionally in toothaches in rheumatic diseases and to heal and protect wounds from infections by gujjar and bakerwal community and people living at mountain regions who locally call it momram Swertia tetragona is mostly substituted for chirata and is locally being used as anthelmintic febrifuge and liver tonic Therefore we assume these two Swertia species to be antiinflammatory analgesic antimicrobial and antihepatotoxic