Medicinal Property and Ethnopharmacological Activities of Argemone mexicana: An Overview

Abstract

Argemone mexicana (Mexican poppy), commonly known as “Satyanasi orBhatkatiya” in India, is a valuable medicinal plant and considered to have miraculous therapeutic potential.It is used to cure several diseases in the Indian traditional medicine system of Ayurveda for over 5000 years. Its leaves, stem, latex, roots and seeds have several pharmacological activities.Many of the bioactive compounds obtained from the Argemone seeds are especially effective in the treatment of chronic diarrhea, dysentery, peptic ulcers, as well as respiratory infections. Scientific studies have validated numerous medicinal applications of Argemone mexicana, which include analgesic, antispasmodic, depurative, emetic, antipyretic, emmenagogue, sedative, vulnerary, healing dermatological problems etc. However, its medicinal property is not much highlighted due to a popular misconception that this plant is poisonous andcauses epidemic dropsy, with symptoms including extreme swelling, particularly of the legs, but this is what after the adulteration process of edible oils. The present overview deals with the general and ethnopharmacological profile of Argemone mexicana, emphasizing its medicinal property against various human ailments along with other current uses, which has been reviewed from literature up to January, 2020 and enlists 109 references.