A REVIEW ON THE PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF THE GENUS HELIOTROPIUM (BORAGINACEAE)

Mini Gopinathan* and M. Balasubramanian

ABSTRACT

Plants provide an unlimited source of bioactive compounds that have immense potential applications in pharmaceutical industry. Phytomedicine is highly valued in the world and has high demand in many nations. A large number of medicinal plants are explored for the development of commercial drugs. It provides an area of better treatment with fewer side effects in the human physiological system. Most of the plants in the genus Heliotropium are considered as weed by farmers but finds a place in folk medicine by traditional medicinal practitioners due to its immense pharmacological potential. These plants have been used as traditional medicines by local heelers, where they prepared medicines in the form of decoction, pastes, juices and some have been taken orally. The plants belonging to the genus Heliotropium contain many pharmacologically important phytochemicals in the various parts of the plants and are reported to possess anti-microbial, anti-tumor, anti-tuberculosis, antiplasmodial, anti-cataract, anti-fertility, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, analgesic and histo-gastro protective properties and many more. So, the present review on the genus Heliotropium opens a gateway to find out the promising species in the genus for the development of novel drugs that could combat various diseases including cancer.

Keywords: Heliotropium, Boraginaceae, Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, antiproliferative activity.