Role of Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn.) in Neurological and Metabolic Disorders: Evidence from Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Clinical Study

Abstract

Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn. (Acoraceae)) is a traditional Indian medicinal herb, which is practiced to treat a wide range of health ailments, including neurological, gastrointestinal, respiratory, metabolic, kidney, and liver disorders. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive up-to-date report on its ethnomedicinal use, phytochemistry, and pharmacotherapeutic potential, while identifying potential areas for further research. To date, 145 constituents have been isolated from this herb and identified, including phenylpropanoids, sesquiterpenoids, and monoterpenes. Compelling evidence is suggestive of the biopotential of its various extracts and active constituents in several metabolic and neurological disorders, such as anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and anti-obesity effects. The present extensive literature survey is expected to provide insights into the involvement of several signaling pathways and oxidative mechanisms that can mitigate oxidative stress, and other indirect mechanisms modulated by active biomolecules of A. calamus to improve neurological and metabolic disorders.

Anticonvulsant Activity of Methanolic Extract of Acorus Calamus Leaves in Albino Mice

“…22 However, none of the new drugs fulfill the ultimate goal of drug treatment for epilepsy, i.e., complete control of seizures. 23 Therefore, despite the beneficial effects of the currently available drugs, there is still a need for broadly acting anticonvulsant drugs possessing multiple mechanisms of action with decreased adverse effect, preferably originating from natural products. Acorus calamus is a traditional herb with over 145 constituents isolated and identified for medicinal properties to date.…”

Asarone and Metformin Modulates the Oxidant- Antioxidant Imbalance on Experimentally Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma during Diabetic Condition

“…8,10 On the other hand, α-and β-asarone, the two major active constituents in volatile oils of Acorus calamus along with its extract showed cytotoxic as well as antidiabetic effects. [11][12][13] Our earlier study reported that asarone treatment decreased the development of HCC in a hyperglycaemic condition comparable to metformin. 14 Considering the above fact that the altered cellular oxidative stress is responsible and also shared as a causal factor between both the diseases, however, there is no evidence related to asarone to support their protection against oxidative stress-induced damage in diabetic-HCC condition.…”

Recent updates on the role of herbal medicine for Alzheimer's disease (Dementia)

“…Research indicates that the Alzheimer's disease is associated with plaques and tangles in the brain (Rajagopal et al, 2013). Dementia is a syndrome associated with progressive impairments in memory and learning ability, memory loss, confusion, cognitive skills, disorientation, recent memory loss, and mood changes, forgetfulness, behaviour, insomnia, anxiety, depression, disruptive behaviour, and hallucinations, activities of daily living, and quality of life (Chang et al, 2016;Sharma et al, 2020;Sharma et al, 2014). The loss of memory is considered to be the result of a shortage of the nerve transmitter acetylcholine (Chang et al, 2016).…”