Potential of Impatiens walleriana Hook.f. as medicinal herb and otherwise - An update

The healing potential and usefulness of plants is known since historic times. Impatiens walleriana Hook.f. (Family - Balsaminaceae) is the most cultivated plant from the genus “Impatiens”. It is explored by floriculture and horticulture industries. It has culinary uses with the potential to be researched by the food industry. Many modern medicines are plant-derived and I. walleriana has the potential to be used as medicine as backed by ethnopharmacological data. I. walleriana finds a number of traditional/folk medicinal claims. All parts of the plant and in varied formulations are used traditionally to treat various ailments. The data reviewed shows its safety in uses and its nontoxic nature. Among the Impatiens species I. walleriana is the less researched one. Few studies pertaining to its antioxidant, antimicrobial and antitumor activities are reported. Phytochemical constituents have been identified and reported by some researchers. Following a detailed study of published information and reported activities current review on the one hand summarizes the research work that has been carried out on the other hand gives food for thought for researchers to undertake more work in the direction of finding its usefulness using scientific methodologies and establishing the ethnic claims.