A Potent Plant for Traditional Medicine System: andldquo;Achyranthes Aasperaandrdquo;

Abstract

Nature has been a resource of medicinal constituents for thousands of years and an extraordinary number of modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources. India is a soil of prosperous biodiversity, the total number of lower and higher plants in India is about more than 45,000 species. The plants are potential resource of medicines since antiquity. The medicinal plants are used for treatment of various diseases because of their safety and effectiveness. Achyranthes aspera (Amaranthaceae) is an important medicinal herb found as a weed throughout India. Though almost all of its parts are used in traditional systems of medicines, seeds, roots and shoots are the most important parts which are used medicinally. Achyranthes aspera L. (Amaranthaceae) has long been used in different systems of medicine in the treatment of cancer, leprosy, asthma, wound, insect and snake bite, dandruff, hepatitis, renal disorders, dermatological disorders, gynecological disorders, gonorrhea, malaria, fever, cough, diabetes, pyorrhea, dysentery, opthalmia, rabies, hysteria, toothache etc. The plant has been used as Antimicrobial, Antiviral and Anticarcinogenic, Spermicidal, Anti-parasitic, Anti-cancerous, Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic, Wound Healing, Antiinflammatory, anti-arthritic and Anti-oxidant, Nephroprotective, Cardiac, Anti-depressant activity etc. The present review deals with the enormous amount of scientific research and reports available in different aspects of this plant involving phytochemistry and pharmacology.