Tecomella undulata (Bignoniaceae) is a monotypic genus and one of the most important deciduous, ornamental shrub or small tree of the acrid zone of India. Locally known as Rohida, Roheda in Hindi, Rakhtroda in Marathi, Dadimacchada, Chalachhada, Dadimapuspaka in Sanskrit mostly found in the Thar desert regions of India and Pakistan. The plant holds tremendous potential of medicinal value and is used in traditional and folklore system of medicines. It has been used traditionally in various ailments like syphilis, swelling, leucorrhoea and leucoderma, enlargement of spleen, obesity, tumours, blood disorders, flatulence and abdominal pain. Tecomella undulata has gained prominence due to presence of some prominent secondary metabolites of great therapeutic potential like stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, α-lapachone, tectol isolated from heartwood, bark and leaf. The present review presents the traditional information and recent scientific update on this plant with therapeutic potential.

Objective: The objective of this study was to screen alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors from the different fractions of crude hydroalcoholic extract of heartwood of Tecomella undulata Linn.Methods: Four fractions of crude hydroalcoholic extract of heartwood of plant were used for in-vitro inhibitory assays against digestive enzymes: Alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. For assay, different concentrations (20,40, 60, 80, and 100 µg/ml) were used for all fractions. A standard protocol was used for preliminary phytochemical screening of different bioactive components present in all fractions. Results:The fractions have shown moderate to highest inhibitory activity against both enzymes. However, the strong inhibition was revealed by acetone fraction against alpha-amylase with very minimal inhibitory concentrations at inhibitory concentration 50% values when compared with a standard drug acarbose. Several medicinally active phytocomponents such as flavonoids, saponin, anthraquinones, tannins, triterpenoids, and phenols were observed in all studied fractions. Conclusion:The different fractions prepared from crude hydroalcoholic extract of heartwood of plant are capable of inhibiting alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, and it can be concluded that heartwood of T. undulata Linn. is partially active against postprandial hyperglycemia, thus diabetes mellitus.