Abstract

REVIEW ON SWERTIA CHIRATA: A MIRACLE PLANT WITH ITS PHYTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Himanshu Kundu, Shweta Sehrawat, Dr. Amit Lather* and Sunil Jawla

ABSTRACT

Swertia chirata, which is a well-known member of the Gentianaceae family, has been valued in ancient medicine systems like Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha for centuries due to its immense array of therapeutic capabilities. Known simply as "chirata," this bitter plant has been of great scientific interest due to its broad range of pharmacological activities like hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects. This review extensively collates the phytochemical composition of Swertia chirata, including xanthones (mangiferin and swertiamarin), iridoids, secoiridoid glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids, each of which makes its multidimensional biological impacts. This paper also discusses the traditional applications, extraction, analysis, and pharmacological evidence for the medicinal activities of these bioactive agents. Additionally, the review underscores the recent progress in scientific research and clinical analysis, giving insights into its mechanism of action and prospects for therapeutic use. Due to its strong bioactive profile and pharmacological usefulness with a wide spectrum, Swertia chirata is a miracle plant with vast potential for the discovery of new phytopharmaceuticals. More research in the form of standardization, quality control, and clinical validation is indicated to make it safe and effective for use in current medicine.

Keywords: Swertia chirata, phytochemical, medicinal plant, therapeutic capabilities.