A Review of the Endangered Medicinal Plant Blepharispermum subsessile DC: Its Chemistry, Pharmacology and Therapeutic Potential

Abstract

Blepharispermum subsessile DC. (Asteraceae) is a less explored folklore medicinal plant of India. It is found in the moist deciduous forests of Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Maharastra etc. It is locally known as Rasnajhadi in Odisha. The whole plant is used as Rasna, a potent Ayurvedic drug. Ethnomedicinally it is used for the treatment of diarrhea, skin diseases, eye troubles, backache and rheumatism, menstrual disorder, common cold and rhinitis. Reports suggest its use as a wormicidal and as tonic. The rhizome has an aromatic odour and is used in havan samagri. Its pharmacological activities include anti-microbial activity, oviposition deterent activity against potato tuber moth, anti-fertility, anti-implantation activity and anti-feedant activity against larvae of Spilarctia obliqua. Many different chromenes were isolated from the aerial parts and rhizomes of B. subsessile such as Desmethyl isoencecalin, 8-methoxy-2, 2-dimethyl chromene, desmethylisoencecalin, 5-hydroxy-6-acetyl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl chromene and (-)-artemesinol. Besides chromenes the plant contains 1.2% essential oil, carvacrol, Ursolic acid acetate and β-sitosterol. The present work aims at presenting a comprehensive of the plant such as its botany, ethnomedicinal uses, chemical constituents, pharmacognostic and pharmacological uses. The information reported in this work contributes scientifically to recognizing the importance of Blepharispermum subsessile as a target in the search for new biotechnological investments.