CURRENT UPDATES ON SISYMBRIUM IRIO LINN: A TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANT

Sisymbrium irio Linn belonging to family ‘Cruciferae’ is one of the well-known plant used in Unani Thearpy. Several studies done throughout the world on ‘Sisymbrium irio L’, also known as ‘London Rocket’ or ‘Khakshi’ has established that this annual herb is of tremendous medicinal benefits. This plant exhibits potential pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, anticancer, detoxify spleen and liver, also used as febrifuge, expectorant, diuretic and used in the treatment of rheumatoid, voice disorders, boils, pimples, cough, and has bronchoprotective and hepatoprotective role. Various phytochemicals have been isolated scientifically from the different parts of the plants such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, terpinoids, carbohydrates, phenolics compounds, fatty acids, steroids, amino acids and proteins which were found to be of ‘Chemotherapeutic Interest’. This review paper summarizes the botanical description, ethnomedical, phytochemical and therapeutical role of the plant and highlighted the need of future research on this plant as a source of novel drug.