Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Polygonum glabrum Willd

Abstract

The current paper reviewed the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Polygonum glabrum willd. belonging to family Polygonaceae. All the available information on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of P. glabrum was gathered through a library and electronic searches in Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and SciFinder for the period, 1886‑2016. The plant P. glabrum was usually known as Rasna found almost in all parts of India ascending to an altitude of 1900 m from the sea level. P. glabrum is an important medicinal plant in the Indian system of medicine (Ayurveda). This plant is used by ethnic groups for the treatment of pain, jaundice, piles, pneumonia, burn, wound, etc. Major phytochemical compounds reported from the leaves and aerial parts of P. glabrum belong to sesquiterpenoids, flavonoids, and sterol which have a wide range of biological activities. Pharmacological activities reported for the plant P. glabrum are anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antifungal, antibacterial, antidepressant, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antimalarial, nephroprotective, anti-HIV, antidiabetic, and antiproliferative activity. Present available information revealed that more than 27 compounds isolated from the different plant parts of P. glabrum. Most of the compounds isolated from the leaves and aerial part of P. glabrum belong to flavonoids category which has a wide range of biological activities. Clinical study of isolated compounds may be performed to get prospective candidates for the treatment of cancer, liver disorders, malaria, and cardiovascular, neurological, and renal diseases.