Versatile Therapeutic Potential of Swertia chirayita (Roxb.) H. Karst: A Review

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Swertia chirayita (family- Gentianaceae, common name: Chiryatah) is an herb native to temperate Himalayas and Khasi hills of Meghalaya found at an altitude of 1100 m to 3000 m. The whole plant is widely used as a folk medicine in the treatment of general weakness, fever, cold, joint pain, asthma, headache, hypertension, edema, skin diseases, liver disorders, stomach disorders, intrinsic hemorrhage, and vomiting. Aim of the Review: This article reviews botanical description, geographical distribution, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, various pharmacological activities with special emphasis on hepatoprotective activity and reported formulations of Swertia chirayita. Materials and Methods: The information has been gathered using a variety of search engines, including Google Scholar, Science Direct, Pub Med, Google, SCOPUS, EBSCO, and Sci Val. Results and Discussion: S. chirayita is an endangered plant and now available only in temperate Himalayas. Whole plant has been reported to be used extensively in folk medicine. Phytochemical studies show wide variety of compounds like alkaloids, secoiridoid glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, volatile compounds, xanthones and its derivatives. Reported pharmacological studies have demonstrated Swertia chirayita to exhibit anti-diabetic, anti-leishmanial, immunomodulatory, anti-malarial, anthelmintic, anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. These and various reported formulations of S. chirayita are also discussed in the present review. Conclusion: Pharmacological evaluations of S. chirayita carried out using scientifically accepted controls and protocols have confirmed some of the ethnomedicinally claimed biological actions and other beneficial effects especially on hepatic cells. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)