Endangered liana of the western ghats, Coscinium fenestratum (gaertn.) colebr: An overview

Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. is a rare and endangered liana present in the Western Ghats, which is recently gaining greater importance in the pharmaceutical sector due to its medicinal properties. Globally, this species is distributed in India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia, Western Java, and Borneo. Medicinal plants are important components of the biodiversity of the Western Ghats. The high anthropogenic pressures and associated fragmentation of natural forests have resulted in the loss of habitat and species. Increasing public interest in phytochemical-based medicine along with rapid expansion in pharmaceutical industries has resulted in the increase in demand for medicinal plants like Coscinium fenestratum resulting in a major threat due to over-exploitation from natural habitats in the absence of cultivation. This review article discusses the background of this endangered species of Western Ghats to create awareness of the conservation and research of such an important natural resource in the country.