~ 1900 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2018; 7(5): 1900-1907 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2018; 7(5): 1900-1907 Received: 13-07-2018 Accepted: 15-08-2018 Pranabesh Ghosh Department of Biotechnology, Techno India University, West Bengal, EM-4, Salt Lake, Sector- V, Kolkata, West Bengal, India Prakriti Das Department of Biotechnology, Techno India University, West Bengal, EM-4, Salt Lake, Sector- V, Kolkata, West Bengal, India Chandrima Das Department of Biotechnology, Techno India University, West Bengal, EM-4, Salt Lake, Sector- V, Kolkata, West Bengal, India Supratim Mahapatra Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S C Mallick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, India Sirshendu Chatterjee Department of Biotechnology, Techno India University, West Bengal, EM-4, Salt Lake, Sector- V, Kolkata, West Bengal, India Correspondence Sirshendu Chatterjee Department of Biotechnology, Techno India University, West Bengal, EM-4, Salt Lake, Sector- V, Kolkata, West Bengal, India Morphological characteristics and Phyto- pharmacological detailing of Hatishur ( Heliotropium indicum Linn.): A concise review Pranabesh Ghosh, Prakriti Das, Chandrima Das, Supratim Mahapatra and Sirshendu Chatterjee Abstract Ethnomedicinal practices used in better health treatment system from ancient time. Phytomedicines are now an essential area of better treatment and high prospects in many nations. It is less expensive as well as has better cultural and societal recognition, has better feasibility with the human physiological system and has decidedly fewer side effects. Heliotropium indicum Linn. (Family- Boraginaceae) an annual herbaceous medicinal weed and it is commonly known as Indian heliotrope. It is not only a common weed but also it is an important medicinal herb, too. These medicinal herbs are found in tropical and temperate parts of the world along with India, Bangladesh, and some other African countries. Extensive literature studies suggested that the various parts of the plant are reported to possess anti-microbial, anti-tumor, anti-tuberculosis, antiplasmodial, anti-cataract, anti-fertility, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, analgesic and histo-gastro protective properties. Many pyrrolizidine categories of alkaloids have been separated from this particular medicinal plant. Maximum alkaloids which are isolated from Heliotropium indicum are toxic effects and for that reason use of Heliotropium indicum in internal therapy is not recommended. External methods to cure wound healing and skin infections are less risky, still much more research study is needed. The present review study deals with natural habitat, pharma phytochemical screening, botanical, taxonomical and other critical biological aspects of Heliotropium indicum. The main phytochemicals found in this plant are tannins and alkaloids. The present review may be helpful for identification and preparation of a clear monograph of Heliotropium indicum. Keywords: Heliotropium indicum, phytochemicals, ethno medicine, alkaloids, medicinal weed Introduction The inflorescence of Heliotropium indicum turned their rows of flowers towards the sun. ‘Helios’ meaning in Greek languages is ‘sun,’ and the ‘tropium’ word comes from another Greek word ‘tropein.’ The meaning of this word is ‘to turn’ [1] . Heliotropium indicum Linn. (Fig. A) is comes under the family Boraginaceae. Maximum plants under in the family Boraginaceae are herbs. Many of the plants of this family Boraginaceaeare used as garden plants, and few others are treated as weeds. The Bengali name of this plant species is Hatishur. The genus Heliotropium comprised approximately 250 plant species and distributed in tropical and temperate zones of different parts of the world [2] . Heliotropium indicum is termed as ‘Indian heliotrope’ is highly endemic in India and Bangladesh. It is also found in different parts of the world, especially in many African countries. The plant is an annual, erect; ascending hirsute branched about 20 to 60 cm tall and coarse foetid herb. The leaves are opposite or sub-opposite, alternate or straight forward or sub- alternate, ovate to obovate, hairy, and acute, 5 to 10 cm long. Leaf margins undulate, nerves on either side, serrulate or cordate, or veins conspicuous beneath the leaves. The petiole is about 4 to 10 cm long. The flowers are green and approximately 5 mm in diameter. Flowers develop apically within the cymose, at maturity nutlets are present at the base of the inflorescence (cyme). Flowers are white or whitish violet, regular, sessile, axillary. Sepals-5, 3 mm long, diffused with hairs in outside, deep green, linear to lanceolate and uneven or unequal. Distributed branched, hirsute with hairs in the stem and the root is tap root and branch. The fruits are dry 2 to 4 lobed, with or without united nutlets, 3 to 6 mm long. It is an endemic weed in disturbed areas, garden or lawns, roadside, anthropogenic habitats or waste places and settled areas. It is found in sunny locations with around 800 m altitude. Throughout the year flowers are observed in this plant species.