Pharmacognostic and therapeutic review on convolvulus pluricaulis

Convolvulus pluricaulis commonly known as shankhpushpi is a multi-target action drug and hence it is a significant herb in Ayurveda. It exhibits a comprehensive range of therapeutic potential and is mainly prescribed for use in chronic cough, mental stimulation, epilepsy, hallucinations, anxiety, insomnia, depression etc. The phytochemistry and pharmacological aspects of the plant have been scrutinized in this article. Some of the biologically active compounds have manifested in the plant. They are carbohydrate-D-glucose, rhamnose, maltose, sucrose, starch, alkaloids like convolvine, convolamine, scopoletin, β-sitosterol, kaempferol, glacial acetic acid, phyllabine, coumarins etc. Additionally, the drug exhibits pharmacological activities like an antidepressant, antidiabetic, anticonvulsant, anthelmintic, antithyroid, antiulcer, cardiovascular, antioxidant, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anxiolytic etc. In spite of its wide range of remedial actions, no systematic review on C. pluricaulis exists as of date. There is a necessity of evidence-based herbal research. For this reason, the curative potential of the plant in the form of the drug needs to be explored.