Abstract

Background: Ammi visnaga commonly known as ‘honey plant, tooth pick fruit, bisnaga and khella’ is an important plant of Apiaceae family. It is an annual herb found in Europe, Asia, North Africa, Latin America and in India. Carrot, parsnip, celery, coriander, anise, caraway, cumin, parsley and dill are some other plants of the same family i.e., ‘Apiaceae’. Fruits of Ammi visnaga (A. visnaga) are medicinally used as a strong photosensitizer, diaphoretic, carminative and antispasmodic agents.

Objective: A. visnaga has been used for the treatment of bronchial asthma, coronary insufficiency, angina pectoris, psoriasis, renal colic and ureteric stones. Visnagin (C13H10O4) is a ‘furanochromone derivative’ which is the main active constituent’s of A. visnaga. Visnagin is used for the treatment of low blood-pressure, angina pectoris and kidney stone. It also has neuroprotective and antiinflammatory activity. Moreover, visnagin also treat whooping cough, ureter and bile duct, gall bladder and renal colic, tumors and epileptic seizures.

Methods: This review summarizes data’s regarding the biological importance, pharmacological uses and medicinal importance of A. visnaga and their important active constituent’s “visnagin”. Moreover, the detailed pharmacological aspects of visnagin were presented in this review. Further various analytical techniques used for the extraction and isolation of visnagin were also discussed. Studies related to the pharmacological profile of the plants and their active phytoconstituents are one of the leading areas of research.

Conclusion: This review will be beneficial to the scientific society to understand the importance of A. visnaga plant and their active constituents ‘visnagin’for the development of alternative tools to treat disorders in the future.

Keywords: Ammi visnaga, analytical techniques, furanochromone, medicinal importance, pharmacological uses, visnagin.