Cuscuta Reflexa (Dodder Plant): A Critical Review on the Medicinal Plant Used in Ayurveda

The document is a review of the medicinal uses of Cuscuta reflexa, a parasitic plant used in Ayurvedic medicine, highlighting its pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and hair growth-promoting effects. The anti-inflammatory activity was shown in a rat model with extracts reducing paw edema by 47.27% to 80.00% at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg. The antimicrobial activity was effective against bacteria, notably E. coli at 500 µg/mL. For hair growth, the plant extracts promoted follicular proliferation or prevented hair loss in rats at a dose of 250 mg/kg. The review calls for more research to develop practical treatments from the plant.