Phytochemical Composition and Pharmacological Potential of Plantagospecies

The Plantago plant belongs to the family Plantaginaceae and order Lamiales, consisting of more than 200 plant species, perennial and annual, distributed all over the world. The Plantago species is used all over the world for food purposes and several therapeutic aspects. The gel-like properties of polysaccharides that are taken out of seeds and are not just used in remedial aspects, but also in the removal of toxic substances and drug delivery. This study aims to review the biochemical and pharmacological profiles of various Plantago species. A thorough literature review is performed via several online search engines like Google Scholar, Science Direct, Medline, PubMed, and Scopus, regarding the biochemical profile of several Plantago species and their respective pharmacological effects. Several important bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, glycosides, terpenes and iridoids have been identified from various Plantago species. Many plant components like stems, leaves and seeds are used therapeutically for the treatment of several diseases. Some of the major pharmacological activities of various Plantago species are antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antioxidative, wound healing, anticancer and hypolipidemic, following mechanistic pathways. From the extensive literature review, it has been found that Plantago species have been used traditionally in many regions of the world. Even in some regions of the world, several plants of the Plantago species have been used in the food industry. The biochemical profile of several Plantago plants have been signified from various studies. Their pharmacological aspects have also been explored with mechanistic pathways, signifying an impactful future prospect in treating several diseases clinically.