Pharmacological actions and phytoconstituents of Amaranthus spinosus Linn: A review

Abstract

This work presents a brief overview of the morphological, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Amaranthus spinosus Linn. The available information on the ethnopharmacological uses in traditional medicine, phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical practice of Amaranthus spinosus were collected via a library and electronic search (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and Spingerlink). Phytochemical investigation of this plant has resulted in the identification of more than 20 active chemical constituents, among which betalains, hydroxycinnamates, saponins, steroids and flavonoids are the predominant ones. The plant has desirable effects like cooling, digestible, alexiteric, laxative, diuretic, stomachic, antipyretic, improves the appetite, useful in kapha and biliousness, blood disease, burning sensation, hallucination, leprosy, bronchitis, rat bite, piles and leucorrhoea. This article enumerates an overview of phytochemical and pharmacological aspects that is useful to researchers for further exploration necessary for the development of this potential herb.