Blumea lacera (Burm.f.) DC: A review on ethnobotany, phytochemistry, ancient medicinal and pharmacological uses

Abstract

Blumea lacera (Burm. f.) DC., a member of the Asteraceae family, is an annual herbaceous plant with a rich array of phytochemicals that hold immense therapeutic promise. Commonly known as Karanda jangli muli (in Hindi) and kukkuradru (in Sanskrit), this herb is cultivated for its applications in food, essential oil extraction and various ethnomedical purposes. It thrives in diverse regions, including the Indian plains, the northwest Himalayas, China, Tropical Africa, the Malay Islands, Australia, Ceylon and Malaya. B. lacera boasts a multitude of valuable phytochemical components, including α-amyrin, ß-sitosterol, acetates, hentriacontane, stigmasterol, lupeol and lupeol acetate. These phytochemicals exhibit a wide range of pharmacological properties such as antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, diuretic, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, astringent, hepatoprote-ctive, sedative, anxiolytic, anti-viral, analgesic, hypothermic, anti-bacterial, anti-atherothrombotic, anti-leukemic and tranquilizing effects. Additionally, the phytochemicals derived from B. lacera align with various Ayurvedic attributes, encompassing dravya (substance), rasa (taste), guna (qualities), veerya (potency), vipaka (post-digestion outcome), karma (pharmacological actions) and prabha (therapeutics). Despite the plant's extensive bioactive chemical profile and therapeutic significance, scientific studies on B. lacera remain surprisingly scarce. In light of its numerous applications, this review aims to elucidate the diversity of phytochemicals, ethnomedicinal uses and therapeutic potentials of B. lacera.