An evidence-based ethnomedicinal study on Oxalis corniculata: Review of decade study

Abstract

One of the most recent focal plant species in India is Oxalis corniculata Linn, often known as creeping woodsorrel
and a member of the family Oxalidaceae. It is a native to tropical and subtropical areas of the globe and is
significant in medicine. Several conventional medical practices have used the herb O. corniculata Linn. to cure
human illnesses and afflictions. The review is designed to assess the publication based on the research review
on O. corniculata. The literature for a decade from 2011 to 2021 was collected from scientific databases such as
PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. A methodical search was performed using
various keywords in order to get a deeper insight into the database. The review indicates that several phytochemical
compounds, including flavonoids, tannins, phytosterols, phenol, glycosides, fatty acids, galacto-glycerolipids, and
volatile oil, have been isolated from the plant. The leaves are rich in flavonoids, isovitexine, and vitexine-2”-Obeta-
D-glucopyranoside. It is an abundant supply of important fatty acids such as palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic
acid, linolenic acid, and stearic acid. The chemical structure of the identified compound given in the literature was
sketched using the chem sketch freeware version, which would help the researchers to study the chemical nature of
the compound in reference to identifying the lead molecule for further designing the semisynthetic derivatives with
optimized activity. Also from the literature, it has been revealed that different parts of O. corniculata were assessed
for pharmacological activities and found to possess antidiabetic activity, wound healing activity, antioxidants,
anxiolytic properties, protective effect on induced nephrotoxicity, and antibacterial activity. The major focus of
the review was to identify the folkloric uses of the plant that were reported in the published study. For a long time,
traditional medicinal practitioners have used the plant to treat bad breath and is a rich source of Vitamin C for the
treatment of Vitamin C deficiency for the treatment of stomach disorders in the area of the Cold Desert of Western
Himalaya, Traditional healers from many locations reportedly used it to treat cataracts, sinusitis, conjunctivitis,
and typhoid. The plant is utilized for athlete’s foot, wounds, hypertension, diabetes, and hormonal imbalance;
stomachache and migraine; excessive menstruation; cough; and poison antidote; as a blood tonic to be taken orally;
intestinal gas; stomach discomfort; renal pain; kidney stone; and strengthening urinary tract wall; as a therapy for
fractures and snakebites; as utilized to cure renal conditions; leaf paste to promote speedy healing; topically to
cure worms and scorpion stings; and skin ailments; utilized to cure renal conditions; topically to cure