Abstract
Chemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Genus Picrorhiza: An Update
Department of Chemistry, M.M. University, Sadopur-Ambala, Haryana-134 007, 1M. M. College of Pharmacy, M. M. University, Mullana, Haryana-133 203, 2Department of Chemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar-143 005, India
Correspondence Address:
Department of Chemistry, M.M. University, Sadopur-Ambala, Haryana-134 007, India, E-mail: vinitprakash@gmail.com
This review article on Picrorhiza genus comprehensively summarized the characterization, morphology, distribution, traditional uses, chemical constituents and biological activities of isolated individual constituents as well as plant extracts. It belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family, a small genera with two species, which are mainly found in Western and Eastern Himalayas at an altitude of 3000-5200 m. It has been used traditionally to cure many diseases like asthma, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, diarrhea, dyspepsia, fever, gastrointestinal problems, jaundice, urinary disorders. Its phytochemical analysis reported the presence of glycosides, aromatic esters, bis-iridoid, phenyl propenoids, alcoholic compounds and fatty acids. Chemical constituents of the genus Picrorhiza and its crude extracts with various solvents exhibit biological activities such as antimicrobial, anticancer, antiasthmatic, antidiabetic effects.
