Plants-Based Bioactivities: A review of Desmodium species

Abstract

Three powerful Desmodium plant species—Desmodium gangitecum DC, Desmodium triflorum Linn, and Desmodium triquetrum Linn—that are members of the Fabaceae family were examined in this study due to their significant phytochemical, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-asthmatic qualities. A well-researched traditional Indian medicinal herb for neurological disorders is Desmodium species. Its multidirectional therapeutic importance as an anti-leishmanial, anti-inflammatory, and cardio-protective medication has been shown by recent pharmacological research. Additionally, it has blood-purifying and detoxifying properties, which may be related to its immunomodulatory function.

The plant is abundant in phospholipids, alkaloids, pterocarpans, sterols, and flavonoids, according to phytochemical study. Relevance to ethnopharmacology: Traditional Chinese medicine has long used plants in the genus Desmodium (Fabaceae), including Desmodium gangeticum DC, Desmodium triflorum Linn, and Desmodium triquetrum Linn, to treat a variety of illnesses, such as rheumatism, pyrexia, dysentery, wounds, cough, malaria, hepatitis, hemoptysis, and more. The majority of species, according to traditional Chinese medicine theory, have the ability to reduce internal heat or fever, neutralize toxins, inhibit pain, stimulate blood circulation, suppress coughing, and ease dyspnea. The review emphasizes primarily on folkloric uses, pharmacological activities of the extracts, biological activities of isolated compounds, toxicity and safety profile of Desmodium speciesto provide a comprehensive data for researchers to hit upon new chemical entity responsible for its claimed traditional uses and further clinical trials.  In this review, we have tried to consolidate the pharmacological studies on three potent Desmodiumspecies work done so far, along with a detailed documentation of its phytoconstituents and their reported pharmacological actions