Biology of Alysicarpus moni lifer (L.) DC.: An important medicinal plant

Alysicarpus monili fer (Desmodieae, Fabaceae) is an important medicinal herb used in the indigenous system of medicine. The plant is used as anti-inflammatory, in stomach ache, as an antidote to snakebi te, and for the treatment of fever, jaundice, leucoderma, diarrhoea, skin diseases and kidney stones. As the plant is in demand in the preparation of herbal drugs, there is need for propagation and cultivation of the species to meet the market demand. In the present communication, available data on various aspects of the A. moni li fer has been discussed.