A review on ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology on Rumex hastatus

Rumex hastatus (Polygonaceae), known as “Khatimal”, is perennial shrub found as a common weed all over the hills of India and Pakistan. The intact plant is used in traditional and folkloric systems of medicine. In traditional systems of medicine, the plant is reputed for its laxative, tonic agent, diuretic, against rheumatism, skin diseases, piles, bleeding of the lungs, foot and mouth infections, asthma, cough, jaundice, headache, diarrhea, dysentery, fever, weakness and scabies. The whole plant is ascribed to possess medicinal virtues in Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine. The review reveals that phytochemical constituents of extensive range have been separated from the plants and it possesses main pharmacological activities like hepatoprotective, antinociceptive, antiinflammatory, antipyretic, antibacterial, phytotoxic, cytotoxic, antidiarrhoeal, neurodegenerative disorders, antitumor and anti-angiogenic potentials. This review highlights the phytochemical, conventional, ethno botanical, pharmacological information available on R. hastatus, which might be obliging for researchers and scientists to find out new element entities responsible for its claimed conventional uses.