A REVIEW ON: ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS (OKRA)

Abstract

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is the only vegetable crop of significance in the Malvaceae family and is very
popular in the Indo-Pak subcontinent. In India, it ranks number one in its consumption but its original home is Ethiopia and
Sudan, and North-eastern African countries. Medicinal plants are the nature's gift to human being to have disease-free healthy life.
It plays a vital role to preserve our health. In recent times, the use of herbal products has increased tremendously in the western
world as well as developed countries. India is one of the most medico-culturally diverse countries in the world where the
medicinal plant sector is part of a time-honoured tradition that is respected even today. Medicinal plants are believed to be safer
and proved elixir in the treatment of various ailments. Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) is an important medicinal plant of tropical
and subtropical India. Its medicinal usage has been reported in the traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Siddha and
Unani.