Phytochemistry and pharmacology of Argemone mexicana Linn – An Indian medicinal plant

Argemone mexicana (Mexicana poppy) it is commonly known as “Satyanasi or bhatkatiya” belonging to the family papaveraceae of 44 genera and about 760 species of flowering plant which is used in several traditional medicines to cure various ailments all over the world. The plants consist of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, long-chain aliphatic alcohol, amino acids, carboxylic acid, steroids, carbohydrates and phenolics. Pharmacological studies performed on the plant revealed that the plant tends to posses antioxidant, wound healing activity, antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, larvicidal and chemosterilant activity. The present article gives detailed information on its phytochemical and pharmacological properties and its ethno medicinal uses about the plant which would be helpful for the researchers for the future investigation.