2.

0 MAHUA (MADHUCA INDICA)

Although there are a few anti-rheumatic drugs that show efficacy in treating rheumatoid
arthritis, there is always a demand for new and more effective natural drugs due to side
effects and toxicity (Vane & Botting, 1996). Nowadays, dietary modifications, nutritional
supplements, and botanicals such as herbal plants are the best alternative approach.

Figure 6. : Madhuca Indica[15]

Madhuca Indica (Local names: (Hindi) Mahua, Mohwa, Mauwa) (P. Patel et al., 2012; Bina S.
Siddiqui et al., 2010) is an Indian plant of the Sapotaceae family with a remarkable therapeutic
promise and pharmacological potential to treat various diseases.

It is distributed across the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent's subtropical region. Significant

numbers of Mahua trees are found in the Saharanpur region of Uttar Pradesh other states that
are habitat to Madhuca Indica are Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, Andra Pradesh, Chattisgarh,
Orissa, Maharastra, Bihar, West Bengal, Deccan, Northern Circars and Karnataka ( M. Patel et
al., 2010; P.N. Behl et al., 2002). In many parts of India, Mahua flower occupies an important
position in tribal life. Major quantities of flowers are used in distilled liquor preparation (Das
Basanta Kumar, 2010). It is also seen that the bark of the Mahua tree is used to heal the bone
fracture. Furthermore, Mahua's leaves and bark have been used against rheumatism (CSIR,
2007; M. Sheshagri 2007).

Table 1. Mahua Pharmacological Profile([16,21,22]

Anti-diabetic, Anti-ulcer, Hepato-protective, Anti-pyretic,

Analgesic, Anti-oxidant, Swelling, Inflammation, Piles,
Dermatological, Laxative, Anti-Burn, Anti-earthworm,
Wound healing, Headache etc.