Systemic Review: Martynia annua 34 Int J Res Med. (2012),1(1),34-39 e ISSN:2320-2742 p ISSN: 2320-2734 SYSTEMIC REVIEW: PHARMACOGNOSY, PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGY OF MARTYNIA ANNUA Shankul Kumar* 1 , A.K. Prasad 1 , Satish V Iyer 1 , S.K.Vaidya 2 , Asit R. Sahu 2 1 GHB Pharmacy College, Aniyad, Shehra, Gujarat, India 2 CU Shah College of Pharmacy, Wadhawan city, Gujarat, India. Received 29 Nov 2012; Accepted 22 Dec 2012 INTRODUCTION: During the past decade, the indigenous or traditional system has gained importance in the field of medicine. a large number populations depend on the traditional practitioners, who are dependent on medicinal plants to meet their primary health care needs. Although, modern medicines are available, herbal medicine retained their image for historical and cultural reasons. Since the usage of these herbal medicines has increased, issues and moto regarding their quality, safety and efficacy in industrialized and developing countries are cropped up 1,2 . In order to make sure the safe use of these medicines, a necessary first step is the reviewing the whole plant for its potential as a medicinal plant. Martynia annua is a wild herb distributed throughout India. Materia medica of India provides lots of information on the folklore practices and traditional aspects of therapeutically important natural products. REVIEW ARTICLE ABSTRACT Over the past decade, herbal and ayurvedic drugs have become a subject of world importance, with both medicinal and economical implications. A regular and widespread use of herbs throughout the world has increased serious concerns over their quality, safety and efficacy. Martynia annua, locally known as “Vichchida or kagdo” (English name “Devil’s claw”) Fam. Martyniaceae has a diverse pharmacological and phytochemical importance. Thus, a proper scientific evidence or assessment has become the criteria for acceptance of herbal health claims. This review article explores the traditional knowledge or claims along with Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical, Pharmacological and future aspects of this plant. Over many centuries humans have been mining the bounties of nature for discovering new phytoconstituent that have been used for the treatment of number of diseases; many such treatments are useful even today as modern day medicine. Emerging evidence also suggests that search is still continuing for harnessing active compounds from nature in combating human illnesses and it also leads the path to search out new active natural and novel semisynthetic or synthetic compounds. Keywords: Martynia annua, Vichchida, Martyniaceae, Devil’s claw. *Corresponding Author Shankul kumar GHB Pharmacy College, Aniyad , Gujarat Email: kumar.sankul@gmail.com