Holistic Psychopharmacology of <i>Fumaria indica</i> (Fumitory)

Abstract

<i><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:10pt;">Fumaria indica </span></i><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:10pt;">is a medicinal plant of the fumitory family wildly growing throughout India. Classical texts of Ay</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:10pt;">urveda, <i>i.e</i>. the oldest traditionally known health care and medical system originating in Indian subcontinent, mentions diverse medicinal uses of the plant. During more recent decades broad spectrums of therapeutically interesting pharma</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:10pt;">cological properties of its extracts and secondary metabolites have also been reported. Recent observations made during efforts to define its pharmacological activity profile according to the Ayurvedic concepts of mind body medicine have revealed exceptionally broad spectrums of psychopharmacological activity profiles of diverse types of hydro alcoholic extracts of the plant. These effects of the extracts become apparent after their repeated daily doses only. Taken together with prior preclinical knowledge on the plant, these observations strongly suggest that <i>Fumaria indica</i> could be an eas</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:10pt;">ily available source for discovering and developing phyto-pharmaceuticals or drugs potentially useful for treatments of mental health problems commonly associated with numerous physical disorders and chronic diseases. Since several psychoactive and other phytochemical of <i>Fumaria indica </i>are also encountered in other plants commonly used in Chi</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:10pt;">nese and other traditionally known medical systems, observations made and the holistic strategy used for defining its psychopharmacological activity profile could be of interest of others involved in efforts necessary for proper under</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:10pt;">standing of therapeutic potentials of many plants containing Fumaria alkaloids and other bioactive phytochemicals pre</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:10pt;">sent in <i>Fumaria indica</i>.</span&gt

Effect of Crude Extract and Phytosterol Fraction of Fumaria Officinalis in Induced Hypertrophic Scar of Rabbits

“…This finding agrees with Rizvi et al [52] that documented the anti-inflammatory activity and scavenging effect of leaves of F. parviflora through inhibition of various cytokines in rats. Phytosterols of F. officinalis L. have anti-inflammatory action [21], anti-inflammatory of F. officinalis L. can also relate to various phytochemicals such as isoquinoline alkaloids (fumaric acid), phenolic compounds, and flavonoid [55]. Crude F. officinalis L. is comparable to TAC as both have been shown the most anti-inflammation effect in this study.…”

Gastro-protective and Anti-stress Efficacies of Monomethyl Fumarate and a Fumaria indica Extract in Chronically Stressed Rats

“…Fumaria indica Linn., a wildly growing weed of the Fumariaceae family, is a traditionally known medicinal plant widely used for diverse therapeutic purposes in Ayurvedic and other traditionally known systems of medicine in India and other Asiatic countries (Shakya et al 2012). Various therapeutically interesting neuro and psychopharmacological properties of many F. indica alkaloids have been described, and suggestions have also been made that it could be pharmacologically classified as a neuroleptic herb (Dandiya 2010).…”

“…Available preclinical information on therapeutically interesting bioactivities of diverse types of F. indica extracts (Shakya et al 2012) are quite analogous to those of numerous traditionally known medicinal herbs often pharmacologically classified by modern herbal researchers and practitioners as herbal adaptogens (Winston and Maimes 2007). Withania somnifera, often referred to Indian ginseng, is one such clinically and preclinically more extensively studied adaptogenic or stress response desensitizing herb widely used in Ayurvedic medicine in India and elsewhere for prevention and cure of chronic inflammatory disorders Winters 2006).…”

Quantitative Systems Pharmacology: Lessons from Fumaric acid and Herbal Remedies

“…Fumaric acid and its easily hydrolysable conjugates are stored in variable quantities in many plants, and a few reports suggesting fumaric acid and fumarates to be their bioactive constituents have also appeared in recent years [4]. Fumaria indica (Fumaria vaillantii L.) is one such wildly growing weed often used in traditionally known systems of medicine in India and elsewhere for diverse medicinal purpose [5]. The first report identifying mono-methylfumarate as a potent hepatoprotective constituent of the plant appeared in 1998 [6].…”