Botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and Unani traditional uses of Jadwar (Delphinium denudatum Wall.): A Review

Abstract

Delphinium denudatum Wall (DD), commonly known as Jadwar in India, is an essential plant of the Unani system of medicine. In Unani medicine, Jadwar is considered an antidote to poisons, refrigerant, nerve tonic, cardiotonic, demulcent, lithotriptic, diuretic, and antipyretic. It is beneficial in the treatment of fungal infections, paralysis, facial palsy, epilepsy, infantile convulsions, migraine, mania, hysteria, numbness, tremors, cholera, jaundice, cardiac diseases, arthritis, rheumatism, toothache, aconite poisoning, snake bite, scorpion sting and all kinds of pain. Many bioactive constituents are isolated from DD, including flavonoids, triterpenoids, alkaloids, including delphocurarine, staphisagrine, delphine, condelphine, denudatin, delnudine, delnuline, vilmorri anonymouse, vilmorrianone, a diterpenoid alkaloid. The scientific analysis of Jadwar demonstrates many of the activities mentioned in Unani literature. Nevertheless, further research is needed to identify the mechanism, active constituent, and usefulness of Jadwar in clinical practice. Given the encouraging results against neurological disorders in the prefaces, this aspect should be thoroughly investigated to make it a standard medicine.