Integrative Review of the Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Potentials of Four Cyperaceae Medicinal Plants

Abstract

The Cyperaceae family is composed of around 70 genera and 4000 species. The Cyperaceae family, sometimes known as the sedge family, consists of monocotyledonous flowering plants. It is classified under the Poales order. The Cyperaceae family comprises herbaceous plants with grasslike characteristics, mostly distributed in moist tropical locations around the globe.  Nevertheless, the distribution of species is mostly limited to tropical or warm temperate climates. In the current investigation, a selection of four medicinal plants was included, namely Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus iria, Cyperus compressus, and Fimbristylis miliacea. Cyperus rotundus which is known as Purple nutsedge, traditionally the plant has been employed for the treatment of pain relief, hepatoprotective properties, and stomach disorders etc. due to presence of some specific phytoconstituents including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, starch, glycosides etc. The leaves of Cyperus iria are most commonly used medicinal part of the plant. It has antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties. Cyperus compressus has been traditionally used for parasite caused stomach disorders for its anthelmintic properties. Besides it has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities due to the presence of high number of flavonoids. Fimbristylis miliacea is one of the plants which has been used to treat fever, neuropsychiatric, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and liver disorders. It is also used as a pain-relief, stomach disorders like diarrhea and antioxidant properties. The present work is not detailing study of chemical or analytical procedure, rather it is a short project work based on review of literature on some plants of the Cypraceae family, their occurrence, prospects and probabilities in the field of medicine.