A review on ethnobotany and promising pharmacological aspects of an endangered medicinal plant, Curcuma caesia Roxb.

Abstract

Curcuma caesia Roxb. is one of the rarest medicinal plants used traditionally for the mitigation of various ailments. It isnow classified as an endangered species and through this review, an overview regarding the pharmacological benefits of this plant hasbeen put forward. Information on the ethnobotany and phytochemistry along with pharmacological activities was retrieved from theelectronic databases for the period from 1962 to 2019. A literature review of articles published in local magazines, conference papers,unpublished materials, and books on traditional and medicinal plants of India was also conducted. There is very little information onC. caesiais in the literature, which revealed its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities along with neuropharmacological,thrombolytic, anthelmintic, antiulcer, and antidepressant properties. The modern pharmacological studies have validated some of thetraditional claims and uses. However, many aspects of this perennial herb have not been studied due to its limited availability andauthenticity of the species. There is limited availability of the species as it has become an endangered crop due to its overexploitation astraditional medicine since ancient times. Being a critically endangered medicinal plant, conservation strategies using modern breedingtechniques strongly warrant further research on in vitro and in vivo biological activities in different assay systems; toxicity, adverseeffects, and clinical efficacy of C. caesia are recommended to be further studied.