Dillenia indica Linn. and Dillenia pentagyna Roxb.: Pharmacognostic, Phytochemical and Therapeutic aspects

Dillenia indica Linn. and Dillenia pentagyna Roxb. plants are commonly known as ‘Karmal’ and ‘Mota Karmal’ respectively belonging to family Dilleniaceae. These plants are distributed in many Asian countries, in India from Himalaya to south India. Morphologically leaves, bark and fruit are having major differentiating characters of both species. Traditionally the different parts of these plants have curing properties like cancer, wound healing, diabetes, diarrhea, bone fracture, in cut and burns, abdominal pains etc. Based on phytochemical investigations these plants are reported to contain active constituents like betulin, betulinic acid, dillenetin, dipoloic acid, myricetin, quercetin derivatives etc. Different prepared extracts of these plants and their parts has been reported to contain wide range of flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, phenolics, saponins, fixed oil which may exert varied pharmacological activities like anticancer, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, antioxidant and many more. The present review approaches for pharmacognostical description, phytochemical investigations and therapeutic importance of both the species.