Traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of Roscoea purpurea Sm.

Abstract

Background: Roscoea purpurea Sm. (Zingiberaceae) is an important Himalayan plant used as tonic and for the treatment of various diseases.

Methods: The scientific information about the traditional uses, bioactive compounds, and biological activities were collected from the published research articles, books, and online scholarly databases such as Scopus, SciFinder and PubMed.

Results: R. purpurea is a valuable medicinal plant in the traditional medicinal system Ayurveda and is also locally used for the treatment of diabetes, urinary troubles, etc. Various bioactive compounds including phenolic acids, flavonoids and diterpenoids are reported mainly from the rhizomes. The extracts and compounds obtained from the rhizomes showed antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and oxidative DNA damage protecting activities.

Conclusion: The study highlighted the traditional uses, bioactive compounds, and biological activities of R. purpurea. Published scientific articles suggest that the rhizomes are rich in bioactive compounds with pharmacological importance. Rhizomes can be a potential source for the development of functional foods and nutritional products. As most of the bioactivity analyses were based on in-vitro assays, future studies should focus more on in vivo and clinical studies. 

Keywords: Roscoea, kakoli, rasgari, antioxidant, phenolic acids, flavonoids