Ammi Visnaga L., a Potential Medicinal Plant: A Review.

Noha Khalil,Mokhtar Bishr,Samar Desouky,Osama Salama

doi:10.3390/molecules25020301

Noha Khalil, Mokhtar Bishr + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25020301

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Abstract

Ammi visnaga L. (Visnaga daucoides Gaertn., Family Apiaceae), also known as Khella Baldi or toothpick weed, is an annual or biennial herb indigenous to the Mediterranean region of North Africa, Asia, and Europe. The plant is known to have been used in traditional medicine a long time ago. Nowadays, it is used in modern medicine to treat many aliments such as renal colic and coronary insufficiency, and is used as an antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial, with a larvicidal effect on mosquito larvae. Peer-reviewed studies show that these pharmacological activities are due its valuable chemical constituents that include mainly essential oil, polyphenolic compounds including flavonoids, as well as γ-pyrones, represented mainly by khellin and visnagin. Its essential oil is reported to have antiviral, antibacterial, and larvicidal effects, while its flavonoid content is responsible for its antioxidant activity. Its γ-pyrone content has a powerful effect on facilitating the passage of kidney stones and relieving renal colic, in addition to having a relaxant effect on smooth muscle including that of the coronary arteries. The current review represents the progress in research on A. visnaga in terms of either its chemistry or biological activities. This review represents scientific support material for the use of the plant by the pharmaceutical industry.

Highlights

Since prehistoric times, plants have been employed in the treatment of many illnesses
The additional value of combining blister roof transplantation (BRT) with khellin in liposomes and ultraviolet light (KLUV) in the treatment of recalcitrant vitiligo patches has been investigated; the results showed that almost 75% of the treated patients were extremely satisfied with the result [70]
Standardization of A. visnaga Fruit Several pharmacognostic and phytochemical parameters for the standardization of A.visnaga fruit have been mentioned in the WHO monograph, among which the most important is that the fruit should contain not less than 1% γ-pyrones calculated as khellin, as determined using spectrophotometry [6]

Summary

Introduction

Plants have been employed in the treatment of many illnesses. Ancient humans used plants for the treatment of diseases by trial and error. They noticed that animals avoid some plants while consuming others, and they followed their ways in dealing with nontoxic plants. During the golden age of the Arabs, well-known physicians such as Avicenna, Al-Razy, Al-Antaki, and others mentioned many plants in their books, in an attempt to preserve, improve, and transmit the knowledge of ancient people [1]. This transferred knowledge is a corner stone for modern pharmacognosy and phytochemistry

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