World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

PHARMACOGNOSTIC, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY STUDIES ON SOME MEDICINAL GRASSES BELONGING TO THE FAMILY POACEAE - A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Landge T. T.*, Kakpure M. R.

ABSTRACT

The most of the grasses of family Poaceae possess significant medicinal, economic and ecological importance. In addition to well-known medicinal grasses such as Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Rob., Imperata cylindrica (L.)P.Beauv., Saccharum spontaneum L. and Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss., several indigenous grasses including Andropogon pumilus Roxb., Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf, Setaria pumila (Poir.) R. & S., Sehima nervosum Forssk. and Eragrostiella bifaria (Vahl.)Bor. have attracted attention because of their ethnobotanical importance and therapeutic potential. Medicinal grasses are rich in bioactive phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, saponins and essential oils, which exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective and wound-healing activities. Pharmacognostic evaluation involving macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical and chromatographic analysis plays an essential role in the authentication and standardization of herbal materials. This review summarizes the phytochemical composition, pharmacognostic characteristics, ethnomedicinal uses and biological activities of important medicinal grasses belonging to the family Poaceae, with particular emphasis on underexplored indigenous species. The review also highlights research gaps and future perspectives for the scientific validation and sustainable utilization of medicinal grasses in herbal drug development.

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