Ūnt Katāra (Echinops echinatus): Medicinal importance in perspective of Unani medicine and pharmacological studies

Abstract

Echinops echinatus commonly known as ‘Ūnt Katāra belonging to the family Asteraceae is a much-branched, pubescent, annual herb, 1-3 feet tall; branches widely spreading from the base. This species is distributed widely across the India. The plant exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities such as aphrodisiac, diuretic, anti-pyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic properties. Taraxasterol acetate, 7-O-glucoside, an alkaloid 7-hydroxyechinozolinone, apigenin and its derivatives, echinacin and echinatin are the most important chemical constituents. The current review focuses on the updated information from various scientific studies and reports available in the context of the phytoconstituents and pharmacology of this plant and therapeutic uses of Echinops echinatus in Unani system of medicine.