European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A PHYTOPHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW ON TRIATHEMA PORTULACASTRUM (BISKHAPRA)

Megha S. Shah*, Sneha Mahajan, Vishal Mahajan, Rahul Tywade and Dr. Rajesh J. Oswal

ABSTRACT

Trianthema portulacastrum L. (Biskhapra/ Horse purslane) is widely found in tropical and subtropical countries of the world. This weed automatically spread in cultivated fields. Trianthema portulacastrum L. (Aizoaceae) is an annual, branched, prostrate, slightly succulent, naturalized herb in India. The plant, historically valued as a green vegetable by poor people on the Indian sub-continent because of the high vitamin C content in the leaves, is medicinally known for treatment of edema. From the ancient time it is used for curative purposes. The plant pertains wide range of applicability and henceforth used as an Ayurvedic herb. The decoction of this herb is utilized as a vermifuge, antidote prepared from that helps in treating alcohol poisoning and leaves cure the wound. Biskhapra is a well notorious drug in Unani system of medicine for its extensive use in urinary system as diuretic (Mudirre Baul), in ascites, anasarca, cystitis in case of dribbling of urine, in dropsy, edema and ascites. Major chemical constituents are alkaloids, trianthemine, punarnavin, ecdysterone, tetraterpenoid, 3, 4-Dimethoxycinnamic acid, β- cynin and saponins. Various pharmacological properties like antimicrobial properties, analgesic, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, antihyperglycemic, hepatoprotective activity makes this plant very renowned amongst researchers as they utilized it somewhat like a panacea. This article compiles all updated information related to T. portulacastrum Linn. Scientifically proved activities are co-related with traditional concepts. Scientific evidence exists with respect to their major and minor constituents. The novelty and applicability of T. portulacastrum are hidden. Such things should be overcome through modern scientific concepts.

Keywords: Biskhapra, Unani and traditional Medicine, Aizoaceae, Ethnopharmacology, Morphology, Phytochemistry.