Medicinal Potential of Ornamental Plants

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Bougainvillea spectabilis are commonly grown throughout the globe as ornamental plants. Oral administration of the crude aqueous extract of the blooms of H. rosa-sinensis and leaves of B. spectabilis among alloxan induced diabetic mice for 30 days had not only reduced in fasting blood glucose and postprandial glucose level but also improved the patho-physiology of organs and organ systems to great extent. It has also improved the body weight of the animals. Both the extract had also power to arrest the microbial growth. Investigations revealed that these plants are rich source of some valuable bioactive constituents which can be utilized as good sources of valuable drugs in future as an anti-diabetic, anti-lipidemic and antimicrobial agent.