Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy (C. pluricaulis) is a perennial herb that seems like morning glory. All parts of the herb are known to possess therapeutic benefits. The plant is used locally in Indian and Chinese medicine to cure various diseases. It is used in Ayurvedic formulation for
chronic cough,
sleeplessness,
epilepsy,
hallucinations, anxiety etc. Based on the comprehensive review of plant profile, pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, pharmacological and toxicological data on the C. pluricaulis, there will be more opportunities for the future research and development on the herb C. pluricaulis. Information on the C. pluricaulis was collected via electronic search (using Pub Med, SciFinder, Google Scholar and Web of Science) and library search for articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Furthermore, information also was obtained from some local books on ethnopharmacology. This paper covers the literature, primarily pharmacological, from 1985 to the end of 2012. The C. pluricaulis is an important
indigenous medicine, which has a long medicinal application for
liver disease, epileptic disease, microbial disease, cytotoxic and
viral diseases, central nervous system (
CNS) disease in
Ayurvedic medicine,
traditional Chinese medicine and other indigenous medical systems. The isolated metabolites and
crude extract have exhibited a wide of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effect, including CNS depression,
anxiolytic, tranquillizing,
antidepressant, antistress, neurodegenerative, antiamnesic,
antioxidant, hypolipidemic, immunomodulatory,
analgesic, antifungal, antibacterial,
antidiabetic, antiulcer, anticatatonic, and cardiovascular activity. A chemical study of this plant was then initiated, which led to the isolation of carbohydrats,
proteins,
alkaloids,
fatty acids,
steroids,
coumarins, flavanoids, and
glycosides as active chemicals that bring about its
biological effects. A series of pharmacognostical studies of this plant show that it is a herb, its stem and leaves are hairy, more over it has two types of stomata, anisocytic and paracytic. A herb, C. pluricaulis has emerged as a good source of the
traditional medicine for the treatment of
liver disease, epileptic disease, microbial disease, cytotoxic and
viral diseases, and
CNS disease. Pharmacological results have validated the use of this species in
traditional medicine. All the parts of the herb are known to possess therapeutic benefits. Expansion of research materials would provide more opportunities for the discovery of new bioactive principles from C. pluricaulis.