Chemistry and Medicinal Properties of Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr (Tree Turmeric)

Coscinium fenestratum (tree turmeric), family Menispermaceae, a critically indangered shrub, widely used in folk and ayurvedic systems of medicine. This review gives the detailed survey of the literature on chemistry and medicinal properties of Coscinium fenestratum. The chemical constituents reported from C.fenestratum belongs to different classes of alkaloids, some minor alkaloid as well as ceryl-alcohol, saponin, hentriacontane, sitosterol glucoside, palmitic acid, oleic acid isolated from stem and roots of this plant. Among these, berberine has been reported to be the major and active constituent having numerous biological activities. The remarkable medicinal properties reported are wound healing activity, antifungal, antibacterial, hypotensive, anti-hyperglycemic activity, anti proliferative, Antihepatotoxic, antipyretic, antiulcer, antioxidant, anticancer and neurotoxic activities.