Phytoconstituents and Pharmacological Potential of Sisymbrium irio L.: A Review

Abstract

Sisymbrium irio L. (often referred to as London rocket or Khaksi) is an annual herb of the Brassicaceae family and has been traditionally used in the treatment of respiratory conditions like cough, asthma, sore throat, and bronchitis, and in fever, infections, and weakness. Numerous phytochemical and pharmacological studies during the last few decades have supported many of these uses. Phytochemical studies of its seeds and aerial parts identify a diverse array of bioactive metabolites consisting of flavonoids like isorhamnetin, glucosinolates, phenolic acids, alkaloids, sterols, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids. Fatty acid composition of its seed oil features appreciable contents of linolenic, linoleic, oleic, and erucic acids, testifying to both nutritional and medicinal significance. These constituents are responsible for the varying pharmacological activities described for S. irio, which include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, gastroprotective, and bronchodilatory activities. Experimental evidence indicates that its mode of action is by free radical scavenging, inhibition of inflammatory mediators, and antimicrobial activity through glucosinolate-derived isothiocyanates. The variability of phytoconstituents, combined with new preclinical data, makes S. irio a potential candidate for novel therapeutic compounds. This review synthesizes and critically reviews recent knowledge on its phytochemistry and pharmacological attributes thus summarizes the information for further studies