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Aerva lanata (L.) A. L. Juss. ex Schultes. (Amaranthaceae) locally known as ‘bui’ is an erect or prostrate undershrub with a long tap-root and many wolly-tomentose branches, found in the wild, throughout India. In traditional medicine the plant is used in cough, strangury (slow to be and painful discharge of urine), headache and urolithiasis. The photochemical constituents present in the plant include alkaloids (ervine, methylervine, ervoside, aervine, methylaervine, aervoside, ervolanine, and aervolanine), flavanoids (kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, persinol, persinosides A and B), methyl grevillate, lupeol, lupeol acetate benzoic acid, β-sitosteryl acetate and tannic acid. Pharmacological studies reported diuretic, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, anti-diabetic, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, hepoprotective, anti-urolithiasis, antiasthmatic, antifertility and hypolipidemic properties of Aerva lanata. This review article includes the detailed exploration of the morphology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological aspects of Aerva lanata in an attempt to provide a direction for further research.

Ziziyphus nummularia (family: Rhamnaceae) is a thorny small bush, grows in abundance in the grazing lands of the arid areas of Rajasthan, India. It is an important ethnomedicinal plant of the Thar Desert; local inhabitants use every part of the plant as medicine. Kernels are prescribed in pregnancy as soporific, antiemetic and for relieving abdominal pain. The insect gall is powered and given orally with water to cure bone fracture. Crushed root is applied on the paining shoulder of the bullock. The decoction of leaves is used for the treatment of cough and cold; leaves are also regarded as diaphoretic and prescribed in typhoid. Paste of leaves is used for healing of cuts, boils and cutaneous disease. It is widely used in pain and inflammatory conditions. Z. nummularia contains a unique group of alkaloids known as cyclopeptide alkaloids, in continuation of our work carried out on the leaves of Z. nummularia , present study was initiated to explore antiinflammatory and analgesic potential of cyclopeptide alkaloids isolated from the leaves of Z. nummularia (IFZN). Anti-inflammatory activity was tested against rat paw oedema, mouse peritonitis and cotton pellet granuloma. For screening of analgesic activity, acetic acid induced writhing, tail flick and hot plate test were performed. IFZN 30 mg/kg shows the anti-oedematogenic effect against paw oedema induced by carrageenan, dextran, serotonin and histamine; IFZN 20 and 30 mg/kg were found to have highly significant anti-nociceptive effects. Result of pharmacological studies indicated that IFZN is a potent and efficacious analgesic agent. The analgesic activity of IFZN is mediated by the peripheral as well as central pathways.

Capparis decidua (frock) Edgew (family Capparidaceae) is a xerophytic shrub, commonly known as karrel or ker, whose bark and shoot are used as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, and antidiabetic agents. The plant contains generous quantities of alkaloids. An alcoholic extract of aerial parts of C. decidua, including flowers and fruits, was screened for central nervous system (CNS) activity using conventional behavioral animal models. In the open field test all doses of C. decidua extract tested decreased the number of rearings, grooming, and fecal bolus (P < 0.001) when compared with control. In the barbiturate-induced sleeping test a significant (P < 0.001) a decrease in latency of sleeping and increase in sleeping time were observed at all doses (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg). C. decidua extract increased the percentage of animals exhibiting motor deficit in the rotarod test. In the pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures test the C. decidua extract dose-dependently decreased (P < 0.05) the number of animals with convulsions and increased convulsion latency (P < 0.001); none of the animals treated with extract died in the test. C. decidua extract decreased the duration of tonic hind leg extension in maximal electroshock-induced seizures (P < 0.001) when compared with control. The findings of the present animal study suggested that C. decidua has CNS depressant and anticonvulsant activities.

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Gastrointestinal spasm is one of the most common gastrointestinal problems in infants. An herbal product is safe and effective gastrointestinal remedy to fight against various gastrointestinal problems. Polyherbal products are in use for the treatment of gastrointestinal problems since ancient time. Current era has witnessed an interest in homemade remedies. A large number of modern drugs have been developed from plants. The objective of this review is to provide a consolidated report on traditional uses and spasmolytic activities of some medicinal plants of umbelliferae family viz. Anethum graveolens, Apium graveolense, Foeniculum vulgare, Cuminum cyminum , Pimpinella anisum, Coriandrum sativum and Trachyspermum ammi have been extensively used for various gastrointestinal problems. Gastrointestinal spasm treatment is most common application of these plants oils.