Phytochemical, pharmacological and socio-economic properties of Sagittaria sagittifolia L.
Abstract
Sagittaria sagittifolia is a herbaceous perennial plant which naturally occurs in wetlands of temperate Asia, Europe and north America. It is also cultivated as a food crop for its edible tubers and young shoots in some other continents. A critical appraisal of the phytochemical, pharmacological and socio-economic properties of S. sagittifolia are provided. Sagittaria sagittifolia has diverse medicinal uses such as antigalactagogue, discutient, colds, cough, sore throat, tuberculosis, tracheitis, allergies, itching, pruritus and swelling. S. sagittifolia exert varying degrees of biological activities such as antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective activities. Many applications of S. sagittifolia as source of food and herbal medicines as well as its phytochemistry and pharmarcological properties need further investigations.
Keywords
Alismataceae, Aquatic, Ethnomedicinal uses, Indigenous knowledge, Arrowhead
