A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW: BERGENIA LIGULATA WALL – A CONTROVERSIAL CLINICAL CANDIDATE

Bergenia ligulata Wall is considered amongst the high valued medicinal herbs and one of the important examples of controversial drugs which is popularly known as ‘Paashanbheda’ (meaning ‘to dissolve the stone’) in Indian systems of medicine. The phytochemical studies have shown the presence of many secondary metabolites belonging to coumarins, flavonoids, benzenoids, lactone, carbohydrate, tannins, phenols and sterols. Crude extracts and isolated compounds from B. ligulatashow a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities, such as antiurolithic, antiviral, free radical scavenging, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, diuretic, antipyretic, antioxaluria, antitumor, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-implantation and cardioprotective activities. The objective of present review is to provide the up-to-date information that is available on the botany, pharmacognosy, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacopeal standards, pharmacology and toxicology of B. ligulata and to highlight the biological activities of bergenin (active constituent from Bergenia ligulata) with its pharmacokinetics, analytical methods of estimation and to provide a basis for future research. It covers the information collected from scientific journals, books, theses and reports via a library and electronic search (Google Scholar, Web of Science and ScienceDirect) and literature available from 1962 to 2013, which will guide in proper identification and authentication of B. ligulataand will contribute towards further exploration of this potential clinical candidate.