ABSTRACT
The United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and China witnessed rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 2023. Concerns about severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) novel strains amid the sudden surge of COVID cases are growing. Recently, BA.2.86 (Pirola) poses a much greater risk due to its higher transmission rate and spreading across regions. Pirola variant has mutations that set it apart from all earlier known SARS-CoV-2 variants. This variant was designated a variant of interest by the World Health Organization (WHO). Another SARS-CoV-2 variant named "Eris" (EG.5.1) was detected in India and started picking up in the US and the UK. The WHO listed EG.5.1 (variant) as a variant under monitoring. Therefore, it is important to remain vigilant. Further, multiple Nipah virus infections and scrub typhus cases are spreading among humans in India currently. In this situation, the 13th edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's Cricket World Cup is being held in India this year. With global reach, this big sporting carnival attracts millions of cricket fans from several countries. In light of the multiple public health concerns encountered currently, this gala global sports event needs additional preventive measures.
ABSTRACT
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Therapeutic botanicals (plants and derivatives) are in use since antiquity for various health ailments. The ethnic community is the repository of the information, the multifactorial therapeutic applications of which may often need scientific validation. The spreading hogweed or Boerhaavia diffusa L., also known as Punarnava, is a reassuring medicinal herb with diverse pharmacological benefits. It is used in Ayurveda in Asia and Africa as a rejuvenator or "Rasayan" for its excellent antiaging and antioxidant properties. Aim: The study aimed at compiling the state-of-art knowledge of the medicinal benefits of Boerhaavia diffusa L. and unraveling the unexplored commercially useful bioactive constituents by establishing their possible pharmacological benefits. Methods: The data from published literature, confined to pharmacological manifestations of various phytocomponents of Boerhaavia diffusa L. or its parts like root, leaf and stem were extracted from scientific databases, Google, Science Direct, PubMed, etc. using its antifungal, antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, renoprotective, antifertility benefits and molecular docking study as search strings and keywords. Further, the reported in silico studies for bioactivity and bioavailability are detailed. Results: The botanicals possess numerous bioactive compounds, the most widely reported ones being phenolic (punarnavoside, trans-caftaric acid, boerhavic acid), rotenoid (boeravinones A-J), flavonoid (borhaavone, quercetin, kaempferol), isoflavonoid (2'-O-methyl abronisoflavone), alkaloid (punarnavine), steroid (boerhavisterol, ß-Ecdysone), anthracenes and lignans (liriodendrin, syringaresinol mono-ß-D-glucoside). Some of the reported reassuring benefits of their purified forms or even the crude extracts are antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, renoprotective, cardioprotective, antifertility, etc. Conclusion: The article provides an extensive study on such pharmacological utility to support the ethnomedicinal use of Boerhaavia diffusa L. and propose possible mechanism of the various bioactive compounds in optimising metabolic dysfunctions, healing and protecting vital body organs, often related to the magnificent antioxidant property of this ayurvedic panacea. Further, establishing specific roles of its yet-to-explore bioactive constituents for diverse pharmacological applications is suggested.
