Anatomical and Phytochemical Characterization of Theriophonum minutum (Willd.) Baill. – An Ethnomedicinal Plant

Use of plants by ethnic communities always play an important role in the life of common man as it can be another source of information for the betterment of health and longevity. The study of plants used by tribals always encourages the new generation to undertake new aspect of the study. Theriophonum minutum (Willd.). Baill.  is a (Family- Araceae) unique ethnomedicinal plant used by the Korku tribe of Melghat Dist. Amravati (Maharashtra) to cure intestinal and duodenal ulcers. There is no mention of well-known pathies like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homeopathy, etc.  As this is a unique medicinal plant, no anatomical and phytochemical data is available for drug characterization. Drug characterization is important to understand the purity of the drug. Here an attempt is made to study the macro and micromorphology of all plant organs in details.