Author (Sonia Yadav, Munish Sharma, Shilpa, Munish Sharma)
V. odorata Linn., commonly referred to as "sweet violet," is a plant belonging to the violaceae family and has been utilized for its medicinal properties in Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine since ancient times. It is indigenous to Europe and Asia. In India, it is commonly known as Banafsa, Banafsha, or Banaksa with multitude of medicinal applications. V. odorata is involved in many traditional practices for the treatment of various ailments such as fever, cough, the common cold, headache, sleeplessness, epilepsy, constipation, heart palpitations, difficult or painful urination, breathing difficulties, and skin issues. All parts of the sweet violet plant have medicinal value and possess various biological properties, including sedative, diuretic, laxative, anti-asthmatic, anti-dyslipidemic, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, anticancer, antifungal, and antitubercular activities.