Prosopis cineraria Druce (Jand) – A Review of its Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Properties

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants and validation of their pharmacological properties have exponentially increased since last century. Selection of solvents for making plant extracts that yield significant results has also been a subject of discussion. Prosopis cineraria commonly called Jand, Khejri, Khej has great medicinal importance due to its broad range of phytochemistry and pharmacological properties. It is native to Pakistan, India, Oman, Afghanistan and few European countries. Many different parts of this plant are used traditionally for the treatment of numerous mild to serious diseases. Stem bark, root, seeds, leaves and flowers are predominantly used for the effective treatment of multiple ailments with a range of pharmacological actions involving gastrointestinal, metabolic, spasmolytic, anti-oxidant, antitumor, anti-convulsant, anthelmintic, anti-microbial, analgesic, anti- pyretic, bronchodilator, and anti-lipidemic properties. The present review highlights only the methanolic extract of this plant that has more validated pharmacological properties as compared to ethanolic, aqueous, chloroform and petroleum ether extract.