Hemidesmus indicus R. Br. is a laticiferous, slender, and twining shrub,
which is found over almost every part of India. Its roots (Anantmul - Sanskrit meaning:
endless root) are particularly used extensively as a single drug and in formulations with
other plants to treat several ailments. In view of the wide range of medicinal properties
claimed in traditional medicine, significant efforts have been made to determine the
efficacy of Hemidesmus indicus through pharmacological experiments in vitro and in
vivo models. These include analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant,
antiarthritic, hepatoprotective, antiepileptic, anticonvulsant, antiulcer, antivenom,
antiacne, and antipsychotic activities. Recent studies have also established antidiabetic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-venom, and wound healing activities. Extensive
phytochemical investigations have been carried out by several research groups. The
present review provides an overview of the bioactive compounds of this Indian
medicinal plant. Several classes of compounds, viz. triterpenoids, steroids, steroid
glycosides, coumarin-lignoids, flavonoids in addition to many simpler compounds,
have been isolated and characterised from different parts of H. indicus. These are
listed, along with brief write-ups on isolation procedures, spectroscopical and chemical
characterization, and their biological properties. Particular emphasis is given to the
anti-diabetic properties associated with it, indicus root extracts, and the factors
contributing to these properties
Keywords: Anti-diabetic, Ayurvedic drugs, Coumarino-lignoids, Hemidesmus indicus, Indian sarsaparilla, Phytochemistry, Terpenoids, Volatile constituents.
