MEDICINAL PROPERTIES AND PHYTOCHEMICALS FOUND IN NAGA GARLIC (ALLIUM CHINENSE G.DON): A REVIEW PAPER

Toshisangla Longkumer, M. F. Valan*

Since ancient times, people have looked for drugs in nature to cure themselves from certain diseases. The use of medicinal plants in the beginning was instinctive. During those times, everything was based on experience because, at that time, there was little knowledge about the condition, or which plant could be used as a remedy. Fortunately, a wide range of technologies and techniques have been developed in the modern world to extract, isolate, and determine the precise uses of the plants. One such plant is Allium chinense George. Don, which is a perennial plant. It has flat, narrow, green leaves that are similar in appearance to grass. It produces small, round bulbs that are usually white or off-white in colour. The plant produces small, purple flowers in umbrella-like clusters. It is used as a culinary ingredient and also as a form of traditional medicine in almost all Naga households, and it is also used in Chinese traditional medicine, which aids to its beneficial medicinal values. Allium chinense G.Don consists of phytochemicals like flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and others, that adds to its value as a plant.