Abstract:

Embelia tsjeriam- cottam A.DC is found in most of the parts of south India. It is commonly named as false black pepper because it look a lot like black pepper and that’s why mostly used adulterant for black pepper. It belongs to the family Myrsinaceae, the commonly used medicinal plant in the name of vidang, in local it is called red vidang. But irony is, it is not the true plant of vidang, the true vidang is Embelia ribes Burm f. which is mentioned in ayurvedic manuscript being first identified by Susruta. Its fruit which is globosein shape and is used medicinally and possesses similar actions & chemical constituents of Embelia ribes Burm f. Embelin is the major alkaloid present in it with other chemical components like cardiac glycosides, phenols, flavonoids etc. Few studies have revealed that it possess several pharmacological activities such Antidiabetic, anti-tubercular, antibacterial, anti-inflammatoryetc. Many pharmacognostical and pharmacological studies have been done on Embelia ribes Burm f. however only few studies has been done on Embelia tsjeriam cottam.,this review, is taken over with an attempt to explore the pharmacognosy with pharmacological profile of Embelia tsjeriam- cottam A.DC.