COLOCASIA ESCULENTA : PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW

PHARMACY

Colocasia esculenta is a tropical plant grown primarily for its edible corms, the root and vegetables. It is most commonly known as taro and is widely cultivated in the high rainfall areas under flooded condition usually by small farmers. This study details about morphological characters of taro and their use as food and; region and season of cultivation Colocasia esculenta leaves possess vital nutritive and nonnutritive components in significant amounts, but are underutilized, and lesser explored. The chemical composition varies significantly depending upon climatic conditions and other agronomical factors of the location of cultivation and variety. Micronutrients, viz. iron (3.4–11.7 mg 100 g–1), copper (0.29–0.8 mg 100 g–1), magnesium (170–752 mg 100 g–1), potassium (0.4–2.4 g 100 g–1), and zinc(0.6–4.2 mg 100g–1) are present in high amounts. The ratio of sodium to potassium (1:40) in the leaves add specifically to the antihypertensive properties. Preclinical and clinical studies provide evidence of its antidiabetic, antihemorrhagic, neuropharmacological properties, and as a remedy for stomach and liver ailments. Assessment of phytochemical compounds like chlorogenic acid, anthraquinones, cinnamic acid derivatives, and other phenolics validates these biological properties. The major limiting factor of this plant is oxalate that can be suppressed through food processing strategies. Colocasia leaves are promising green leafy vegetables with nutritional and clinical potential.

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