Piper longum L.: A comprehensive review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and health-promoting activities.

Piper longum (family Piperaceae), commonly known as "long-pepper" or "Pippali" grows as a perennial shrub or as an herbaceous vine. It is native to the Indo-Malaya region and widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical world including the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Middle-East, and America. The fruits are mostly used as culinary spice and preservatives and are also a potent remedy in various traditional medicinal systems against bronchitis, cough, cold, snakebite, and scorpion-sting and are also used as a contraceptive. Various bioactive-phytochemicals including alkaloids, flavonoids, esters, and steroids were identified from the plant extracts and essential oils from the roots and fruits were reported as antimicrobial, antiparasitic, anthelminthic, mosquito-larvicidal, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, anticancer, neuro-pharmacological, antihyperglycaemic, hepato-protective, antihyperlipidaemic, antiangiogenic, immunomodulatory, antiarthritic, antiulcer, antiasthmatic, cardioprotective, and anti-snake-venom agents. Many of its pharmacological properties were attributed to its antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects and its ability to modulate a number of signalling pathways and enzymes. This review comprehensively encompasses information on habit, distribution, ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of P. longum in relation to its medicinal importance and health benefits to validate the traditional claims supported by specific scientific experiments. In addition, it also discusses the safety and toxicity studies, application of green synthesis and nanotechnology as well as clinical trials performed with the plant also elucidating research gaps and future perspectives of its multifaceted uses.

Genetic diversity assessment and biotechnological aspects in Aristolochia spp.

Aristolochia, belonging to the family Aristolochiaceae, has immense ecological significance due to its large size and huge geographic distribution. In the context of dealing with a genus with a huge number of species like Aristolochia, these markers come in handy to precisely identify a particular species and enumerate the genetic diversity. Also, certain species of Aristolochia are economically important due to the presence of secondary metabolites and vast use in traditional and modern medicine. But, the presence of profitable biochemical constituents in Aristolochia is very low and the breeding process of the plant is highly dependable on pollinators. Hence, identifying different biotechnological approaches to fasten the reproductive cycle of Aristolochia and increase the secondary metabolites is of great interest to the researchers. In this study, a comprehensive review has been established on different types of morphological/anatomical markers (starch grains with "Maltese cross"), phytochemical markers (aristolochic acid, triterpenoid, aristolactam etc.) and genetic markers (ISSR, SSR, DNA bar-coding) for various Aristolochia spp. We have also discussed the applications of different biotechnological tools in Aristolochia spp. which include discrete approaches to promote in vitro germination, in vitro shooting, root induction, somatic embryogenesis, synthetic seed production, acclimatization and hardening and sustainable production of secondary metabolites. In a nutshell, the present review is a first of kind approach to comprehensively demonstrate the genetic diversity studies and biotechnological aspects in Aristolochia spp. KEY POINTS: • Insights into the in vitro propagation of Aristolochia spp. • In vitro production and optimization of secondary metabolites. • Assessment of genetic diversity by molecular markers.

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Ashwagandha): A comprehensive review on ethnopharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, biomedicinal and toxicological aspects.

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Solanaceae) has been used as a traditional Rasayana herb for a long time. Traditional uses of this plant indicate its ameliorative properties against a plethora of human medical conditions, viz. hypertension, stress, diabetes, asthma, cancer etc. This review presents a comprehensive summary of the geographical distribution, traditional use, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of W. somnifera and its active constituents. In addition, it presents a detailed account of its presence as an active constituent in many commercial preparations with curative properties and health benefits. Clinical studies and toxicological considerations of its extracts and constituents are also elucidated. Comparative analysis of relevant in-vitro, in-vivo, and clinical investigations indicated potent bioactivity of W. somnifera extracts and phytochemicals as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, apoptotic, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, cardio-protective and spermatogenic agents. W. somnifera was found to be especially active against many neurological and psychological conditions like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, ischemic stroke, sleep deprivation, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The probable mechanism of action that imparts the pharmacological potential has also been explored. However, in-depth studies are needed on the clinical use of W. somnifera against human diseases. Besides, detailed toxicological analysis is also to be performed for its safe and efficacious use in preclinical and clinical studies and as a health-promoting herb.