Volume :

3

Issue :

4

Abstract :

Herbal medicines are used traditionally throughout the world since long time. Recent data estimated that 80% of the world population till depends in herbal medicine. Lagerstroemia speciosa (popularly known as Queen’s Flower/ Pride of India) one of the useful medicinal plants, abundantly available in North Eastern part of India, Burma, Bangladesh, Philippines, Malaysia etc. Lagerstroemia speciosa also known as ‘Ajhar’ in Assam (India) is traditionally used by the people of Assam for curing Diabetic Mellitus (Madhumeha) since long time and getting optimum benefit. In Bhavaprakash Nighantu also (Ayurvedic classic of 16 century) mentioned Lagerstroemia speciosa as hypoglycemic drugs. It has been used as a folk medicine among people with diabetes in Bangladesh & Philippines. It is a deciduous, tropical, flowering tree of Lythraceae family. Flowers are showy, pink to purple color. The active principles of this plant which act as insulin like action are Corosolic Acid and lagerostromin.