Singh et al., IJLSR, 2016; Vol. 2(5): 91-101. ISSN: 2394-9864 International Journal of Life Sciences and Review 91 © 2016 by the International Journal of Life Sciences and Review. All rights reserved IJLSR (2016), Vol. 2, Issue 5 Review Article International Journal of Life Sciences and Review (IJLSR) Received on 11 April, 2016; received in revised form, 13 May, 2016; accepted, 19 May, 2016; published 31 May, 2016 Document heading doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJLSR.2 (5).91-101 FICUS RELIGIOSA – AN IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANT: A REVIEW Shailendra Singh * , S.K. Jain, Dilip Chanchal, Surabhi Rashi and Shashi Alok Department of Pharmacognosy, Institute of Pharmacy, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh India ABSTRACT: Ficus religiosa linn is a large evergreen tree found throughout India, wild as well as cultivated, it is widely branched tree with leathery, heart shaped, long tipped leaves. It is a sacred plant in India. It is one of the most versatile plant having a wide variety of medicinal activities, therefore, used in treatment of several types of diseases, eg, diarrhoea, diabetes, urinary disorders, burns, haemorrhoids, gastrohelcosis, skin diseases, convulsions, tuberculosis, fever, paralysis, oxidative stress, bacterial infections etc. This is a unique source of various types of compounds having diverse chemical structure (phenolics, sterols etc). In this article, we will review the knowledge regarding peepal. Keywords: Ficus Religiosa, Different Species of Ficus, Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Activities, Medicinal Uses Correspondence to Author: Shailendra Singh Department of Pharmacognosy, Institute of Pharmacy, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh India. Email: shailendrabhatiya@gmail.com INTRODUCTION: Medicinal plants are naturally gifted with invaluable bioactive compounds which form the backbone of traditional medicines 1 . With a view to increasing the wide range of medicinal usages, the present day entails new drugs with more potent and desired activity with less or no side effects against particular disease 2 . The use of plants as medicines antedates history 1 . Medicinal plants have served through ages, as a constant source of medicaments for the exposure of a variety of diseases, as they have curative properties due to the presence of various complex chemical substances of different composition, which are found as secondary plant metabolites in one or more parts of these plants 3 . QUICK RESPONSE CODE DOI: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJLSR.2(5).91-01 Article can be accessed online on: www.ijlsr.com DOI link: http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJLSR.2(5).91-01 The history of herbal medicine is almost as old as human civilization 4, 5 and traditional medicines from plants have attracted major attention worldwide because of their potential pharmaceutical importance 6 . The material medica provides a great deal of information on the folklore practices and traditional aspects of therapeutically important natural products. Indian traditional medicine is based on various systems including Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy 8 . Any part of the plant may contain active components like bark, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, seeds, etc 9 . The beneficial medicinal effects of plant materials typically result from the combinations of secondary products present in the plant. Ficus: It is a genus of about 800 species and 2000 varieties, which are woody trees, shrubs and vines in the family Moraceae occurring in most tropical and sub tropical forests worldwide 10 . It is collectively known as fig trees and the most well- known species in the genus is the common fig