Swertia chirata: A Comprehensive Review with Recent Advances

Area of Science:

• Ethnomedicine and Pharmacology
• Phytochemistry and Drug Discovery

Background:

• Swertia chirata is an ethnomedicine with a history of use for chronic fever, malaria, asthma, liver disorders, mental health, and diabetes.
• Recent findings highlight its potential anticancer properties, increasing scientific interest.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the pharmaceutical importance of Swertia chirata as a therapeutic agent.
• To encourage pharmacological research for developing new drugs from this plant.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of data from e-resources (Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar) and books up to October 2017.
• Compilation of information on phytochemicals, in vitro/in vivo studies, toxicology, and conservation.

Main Results:

• Identified key phytochemicals and their pharmacological activities.
• Included data on toxicology, adulteration, dosage, and conservation strategies.
• Incorporated a bioinformatics approach to identify potential therapeutic targets.

Conclusions:

• Swertia chirata is a safe and effective traditional herb with promising applications in modern medicine.
• Further in vivo research, clinical studies, and human trials are recommended for validation.