Vol. 11, Special Issue 6 (2022)

Author(s):
Varsha KP

Abstract:
Phyllanthus niruri which belonging to the group Euphorbiaceae is a tiny herb found in the tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. This plant is popular in folk medicine, whole plant, fresh leaves and fruits are used in the treatment of various diseases. Phyllanthus has been used in the Ayurveda system of medicine for over 2,000 years, which has the ability to prevent or treat a several unrelated health conditions. The fresh roots of Phyllanthus niruri can be used as an excellent treatment for jaundice, edema and genital urinary system infections. P. niruri also helps to eliminate stones in patients with kidney stones and normalize calcium levels in patients with hypercalcemia. Therefore, it is considered to be a better way to treat gallstones and kidney stones. P. niruri decoction is rich in many bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, ellagitannins, flavonoids, glycosides, hypophyllanthin, lignans, niruri side, phyllanthin, phyltetralin, phenyl propanoids, ricinolic acid, steroids and triterpenes. Apart from these, it is also administered for diuretic, hypoglycaemic and hypertension cases and it also shows anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, and antioxidant properties. This review explains about the role of p niruri in different health conditions along with its pharmacological properties and health effects.