Correlation between phytocompounds and pharmacological activities of Boerhavia diffusa Linn with traditional-ethnopharmacological insights

• Published in: Phytomedicine Plus : International journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology 2022-05, Vol.2 (2), p.100260, Article 100260
• Main Authors: Gaur, Praveen Kumar, Rastogi, Sameer, Lata, Kanak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Africa; antioxidants; Asia; Ayurvedic medicine; Boerhavia diffusa; cardiovascular diseases; ecdysteroids; edema; humans; inflammation; kidneys; lignans; nephroprotective effect; North America; nutrient content; polyphenols; Punarnavine, Liriodendrin; Rotenoid, Boeravinone, Ecdysteroids; rotenoids; South America; wastelands; wet season
• ISSN: 2667-0313; 2667-0313
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phyplu.2022.100260

•Boerhavia diffusa Linn is a source of novel phytoconstituents.•It contains novel Rotenoids and alkaloid Punarnavine having various significant activities.•It is used majorly in hepatic-kidney disorders, diabetes, edema and inflammation.•Its novel compounds can be used in bioprospecting and combinatorial chemistry. : The human body is almost 70% water and fluid imbalance has been a classic symptom of severe underlying conditions, i.e., hepatic disorders, kidney disorders, cardiovascular disease and inflammation. Boerhavia diffusa Linn. is a pantropical herb used in traditional medicine systems worldwide for inflammation, liver-kidney disorders, skin problems, etc. Ethnopharmacological reports of B. diffusa correlate well with its traditional uses. The roots and leaves of B. diffusa have demonstrated diverse pharmacological activities in in-vitro and in-vivo studies. It occurs in Asia, Africa, North America and South America, recognized by diffuse branches decorated with green, ovate leaves, sprouting in the rainy season. This beautiful plant is a source of various important phytochemicals, i.e., alkaloids, rotenoids, polyphenols, flavonoids, ecdysteroids, lignan, steroids, etc. : The objective of the work was to compile the reports emphasizing the triangular relationship among chemical constituents, pharmacological potential and traditional/ethnopharmacological uses of B.diffusa. A thorough literature search was carried out using various search engines. Literature reports were collected from these databases and print journals available in the library were referred. A combination of keywords: Boerhavia/Boerhaavia, punarnavine/lunamarine, rotenoids, isoflavonoids, boeravinone, diuretics, hepatoprotective, and edema were used. Manually articles were screened based on the title and abstract and their cross-references were studied. Inclusion criteria were original publications in peer-reviewed journals containing information on B. diffusa and its chemical constituents. : There is abundant evidence of B. diffusa being an important remedy in generalized edema and kidney-liver disorder due to its diuretic and hepatoprotective activities. It is a source of more than 30 different rotenoids, having hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antibacterial, antioxidant, antihypertensive activities. It is also a rich source of flavonoids that exhibit a plethora of activities, especially anti-inflammatory, antiosteoporotic and antioxidant activities. Its traditional properties