Comprehensive Pharmacognostic, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Review of Anastatica hierochuntica L. and Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks

Abstract

Background: This review will give emphasis on pharmacognostic, phytochemical, and pharmacological studies of Anastatica hierochuntica L. and Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks., two plant species with significant
ethnomedicinal importance, with separate extremophytic Ecology. P. wallichiana, a Himalayan high alpine conifer, and A. hierochuntica is another type of desert plant having different mechanisms through which they are able to synthesize diverse secondary metabolites having various important uses, including anti-cancer properties. Materials and Methods: As a comprehensive literature review, available pharmacognostic and
pharmacological studies were collated and analyzed. Studies of phytochemicals were specifically evaluated to show the existence of flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, sterols, and other bioactive compounds in them, which give them such broad therapeutic properties. Results: According to pharmacological studies, both plants show strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective activities. The
reproductive health benefits of A. hierochuntica and xanthine oxidase inhibition, hepatoprotective effect, and phytoestrogenic activity of P. wallichiana have been noted to be effective in the metabolic regulation
of the enzyme inhibition (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and antiproliferation of various cancer cell lines. It is worthwhile to mention that both of the species exhibit parallel antioxidant mechanisms that confer
neuroprotective ability in models of Parkinson’s disease. Despite some encouraging preclinical findings, there are concerns over toxicities, mainly the uterine stimulatory effect of A. hierochuntica emphasize the need
for careful evaluation. Conclusion: This review affirms the medicinal resources of these extremophytes, highlighting the need for further molecular, clinical, and pharmacokinetics studies to allow their phasing in
modern drug discovery and development.