Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Studies of Plumbago Zeylanica L.: A Medicinal Plant Review

Plumbago zeylanica L., known as chitrak, is a medicinal plant with a variety of pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and hair growth promotion. The review by Shukla et al. included 63 research articles and highlighted the plant's traditional uses and phytochemical constituents such as naphthoquinones, flavonoids, alkaloids, and glycosides. Plumbagin, a significant compound found in the plant, has been shown to enhance hair growth by promoting dermal papilla cell growth and down-regulating the 5α-reductase type II gene. The plant also exhibits nephroprotective, antifertility, anticancer, and cytotoxic activities, with plumbagin inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. Despite its many benefits, some extracts have shown toxicity, necessitating further research to isolate active compounds and validate traditional health claims.