AFTIMOON HINDI (CUSCUTA REFLEXA ROXB.): A MIRACULOUS HERB

Irfat Ara, Shazad Yaqoob, Basharat Bukhari, Nighat Ara, Weeqar Younis Raja and Mudasir Maqbool*

ABSTRACT

Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. is a twining parasite and makes a tangled mass covering on the host plants. It is commonly known as dodder plant, amarbel, akashabela. Traditionally it is called as miracle plant. Medicinal properties of the plant are used to cure various diseases. These medicinal properties of the plant are due to the active phytoconstituents of the plants. Parasitic weed plant Cuscuta reflexa has been studied for the identification of its pharmacological activities. Various chemicals have been isolated from this miracle plant having therapeutic potential possessing ethnomedical and pharmacological activities. It contains important chemicals like cuscutin, cuscutalin, bergenin, kaempferol, amarbelin and sterol glycosides etc. Diverse pharmacological studies of Aftimoon have been reported such as anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, anticonvulsant, nematicide, anti-androgenic, hypocholestrolemic, antiandrogenic, hemolytic, diuretic, dermatigenic, immunostimulant, antiarthritic, antiasthma and anticancer activities. In this paper, an attempt has been made to summarize the information described in classical Unani text and scientific research conducted on different parts of Cuscuta reflexa plant.

Keywords: Cuscuta reflexa Roxb., Ethnomedicine, Unani, medicinal herb.