RESUMO
Tephrosia purpurea (fabaceae) commonly known in sanskrit as ‘sharapunkha’ is highly branched ,herbaceous, suberect, perennial herb.widely grown in india. Whole plant and various parts of the plant are useful as ayurvedic medicines. Medicinal uses of drugs are tonic, laxative, diuretic, bronchitis, bilious febrile attack, boils, pimples, diarrhea, gonorrhea, rheumatism and cures disease of heart, spleen and blood. The pharmacological studies have shown that Tephrosia purpurea posses following biological activity such as antiulcer, antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti viral, anti asthmatic ,hepatoprotective, antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemia, immunomodulatory activity, antioxidant, wound healing property, antiallergic activity. A wide variety of phytochemicals are isolated from the plant Tephrosia purpurea which has concerned with their medicinal uses. The present review high lights the mainly phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of the plant.