Volume : 12, Issue : 12, December- 2025

Title:

A REVIEW ON THE PHYTOCHEMICAL, PHARMACOLOGICAL, AND NEUROPROTECTIVE PROFILE OF CONVOLVULUS PROSTRATUS (SHANKHPUSHPI)

Authors :

Mrs.Nerella Indira Rani , Dr. B. Siva Jyothi, B.Abhikya Anunai, A. Sri Lalitha Sahitya

Abstract :

The current review discusses in detail the traditional uses, phytochemical composition, pharmacological activities, structure-activity relationships, extraction techniques, and formulation development of Convolvulus prostratus, commonly known as Shankhpushpi. The plant contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds, including alkaloids like convolamine and convolvine, flavonoids such as kaempferol and scopoletin, sterols like β-sitosterol, and fatty acids, carbohydrates, and proteins. The collective contribution of these constituents to the plant has been well-documented regarding its nootropic, neuroprotective, anxiolytic, antioxidant, and hypolipidemic activities.
The review describes in detail the mechanisms underlying these actions, especially focusing on pathways related to neurodegenerative diseases: the inhibition of β-amyloid aggregation, modulation of tau protein phosphorylation, enhancement of cholinergic transmission, and activation of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. Such mechanisms support the growing scientific interest in C. prostratus as a potential therapeutic agent for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. The paper further elaborates on the structure-activity relationships of major phytoconstituents, outlining commonly used extraction approaches such as successive solvent extraction and methanolic maceration. Advances in formulation development, aimed at enhancing bioavailability and standardization, are reviewed. The present review compiles traditional knowledge and contemporary scientific findings and emphasizes the therapeutic potential of Shankhpushpi and encourages future research efforts targeting standardized preparations with rigorous clinical validation.
Keywords:- Shankhpushpi, Memory enhancer, Neuro degenerative, Natural Products, Convolvulus prostrates.

Cite This Article:

Please cite this article in press Nerella Indira Rani et al., A Review On The Phytochemical, Pharmacological, And Neuroprotective Profile Of Convolvulus Prostratus (Shankhpushpi), Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2025; 12(12).

Number of Downloads : 10

References:

[1], DravyagunaVijnana II, Dr. JLN Shashtri, ChaukhambaOrientalia, Varanasi, Reprint edition: 2014, pg.- 359- 60
[2], Bisht NPS, Singh R. Chemical studies of ConvulvulusmicrophyllusSieb. Planta Med. 1978; 34 (2): 222-223.
[3], Shah SC, Quadry SJ. A textbook of pharmacognosy. 7th edition. New Delhi: CBS Publishers. 1990: 388-389
[4], Deshpande SM, Srivastava DN. Chemical studies of ConvulvuluspluricaulisChoisy. J Indian Chem Soc. 1969; 46(8): 759-760
[5], Singh GK., Bhandari A. Text book of pharmacognosy. New Delhi: CBS publishers. 2000: 193-194.
[6], Deshpande SM, Srivastava DN. Chemical examination of fatty acids of Convulvuluspluricaulis. Indian Oil Soap J. 1969; 34(2): 217-218.
[7], Srivastava DN, Deshpande SM. Gas Chromatographic identification of fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and hydrocarbons of Convulvuluspluricaulis (Choisy). J am oil Chem Soc. 1975; 52 (8): 318-319.
[8], Patil UK, Dixit VK. Densitometric standardization of herbal medical products containing Evolvulusalsinoides by quantification of scopoletin in Convulvuluspluricaulischoisy and in commercial for mulations of Shankhpushpi. J planar chromatograph. 2005; 18(3): 234-239
[9], Kapadia NS, Acharya NS, Acharya SA, Shah MB. Use of HPTLC to establish a distinct chemical profile for Shankhpushpi and for Quantification of scopoletin in Convulvuluspluricaulischoisy and in commercial for mulations of Shankhpushpi J Planar chromatogr. 2006; 19(109): 195-19
[10], Mishra, A., Saklani, S., Salehi, B., Parcha, V., Sharifi‐Rad, M.,Milella, L., … Srivastava, M. Satyriumnepalense, a high altitude medicinal orchid of Indian Himalayan region: Chemical profile and biological activities of tuber extracts. Cellular and Molecular Biology (Noisy‐le‐ Grand, France), 2018. 64(8), 35–43.
[11], Salehi, B., Valussi, M., Jugran, A. K., Martorell, M., Ramírez‐Alarcón, K., Stojanović‐Radić, Z. Z., … Sharifi‐Rad, M. Nepeta species: From farm to food applications and phytotherapy. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2018. 80, 104–122
[12], Zafar R, Ahmad S, Mujeed M. Estimation of scopoletin in leaf and leaf callus of Convolvulus microphyllusSieb. Indian J pharm Sci. 2005; 67 (5): 600-603
[13], Tomar K, Sethiya NK, Shete A, Singh V. Isolation and characterization of total volatile components from leaves of Citrus limon Linn. J Adv Pharm Tech Res. 2010;1(1):49–55
[14], Jain BN, Jain VK, Shete A. Antipsychotic activity of aqueous ethanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia in amphetamine challenged mice model. J Adv Pharm Tech Res. 2010;1(1):30–3.
[15], Gautam A, Jhade D, Ahirwar D, Sujane M, Sharma GN. Pharmacognostic evaluation of Toona ciliata bark. J Adv Pharm Tech Res. 2010;1(2):216–20.
[16], Harborne JB. Phytochemical Methods. London: Chapman and Hall; 1998. Methods of extraction and isolation; pp. 60–6.
[17], Harborne JB. “Phytochemical Methods”, A Guide to Modern Techniques of Plant Analysis. 3rd ed. New Delhi: Springer (INDIA) Pvt. Ltd; 1998. pp. 5–12. (124-6).
[18], (Jain Sk, Rao RR.A hand book of field and herbarium methods. Today and Tomarrow printers and publications, New Delhi,1997)
[19], Bhalerao S. A., Verma D. R., Teli N. C., Trikannad A. A. (2014). Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Convolvulus pluricaulis, Choisy. Res. J. Pharm. Biol. Chem. Sci. 5, 629–636.
[20], Rizwan M., Khan A. A. (2014). Assessment of efficacy of Sankhahuli (Convolvulus pluricaulis Chois.) and gokhru (Tribulus terrestris L.) in the management of hypertension. Indian J. Trad. Know. 13, 313–318.
[21], Mishra S. H., Sethiya N. K. (2010). Review on ethnomedicinal uses and phytopharmacology of memory boosting herb ‘Convolvulus pluricaulis’ Choisy. Aust. J. Med. Herb. 22 (1), 19–25.
[22], Bhutya R. K. (2011). Ayurvedic medicinal plant of India (Jodhpur, India: Scientific Publishers; ).
[23], Sethiya N. K., Trivedi A., Patel M. B., Mishra S. H. (2010). Comparative pharmacognostical investigation on four ethanobotanicals traditionally used as Shankhpushpi in India. J. Adv. Pharm. Technol. Res. 1, 388–395. 10.4103/0110-5558.76437
[24], Nisar S. S., Khan A. A., Maaz M., Shiffa M. (2012). Review of sankhahauli (Convolvulus pluricaulis choisy) from traditional medicine to modern science. Int. J. Institut. Pharm. Life Sci. 2, 94–101.
[25], Dhingra D., Valecha R. (2007). Screening for antidepressant-like activity of Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy in mice. Pharmacol. Online 1, 262–278.
[26], Sultana S., Ali M., Mir S. R., Iqbal D. (2018). Isolation and characterization of glycosides from Convolvulus prostratus, Ficus virens, Phoenix dactifera, Spondias mangifera and Terminalia belerica. Eur. J. Pharm. Med. Res. 5, 310–318.
[27], Singh V. K., Govil J. N., Hashmi S., Singh G. (2003). Recent progress in medicinal plants: Ethnomedicine & pharmacognosy II (Vol. 7) (Texas, USA: Studium Press; ).
[28], Gogte V. M. (2012). Ayurvedic pharmacology & therapeutic uses of medicinal plants (Pune, India: Chau khambha Sanskrit Sansthan; ).
[29], Pan R., Dai Y., Gao X., Xia Y. (2009). Scopolin isolated from Erycibe obtusifolia Benth stems suppresses adjuvant-induced rat arthritis by inhibiting inflammation and angiogenesis. Int. Immunopharmacol. 9, 859–869.
[30], Malik J., Karan M., Vasisht K. (2016). Attenuating effect of bioactive coumarins from Convolvulus pluricaulis on scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice. Nat. Prod. Res. 30, 578–582.
[31], Singh V. K., Govil J. N., Hashmi S., Singh G. (2003). Recent progress in medicinal plants: Ethnomedicine & pharmacognosy II (Vol. 7) (Texas, USA: Studium Press
[32], Gupta M. B., Nath R., Srivastava N., Shanker K., Kishor K., Bhargava K. P. (1980). Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of β-sitosterol. Planta Med. 39, 157–163. 10.1055/s-2008-1074919
[33], Agarwal P., Sharma B., Alok S. (2014). Screening of anti-inflammatory and anti-analgesic activity of Convolvulus pluricaulis choisy. Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Res. 5, 2458–2463. 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.5(6).2458-63
[34], Trivedi P. C. (2009). Medicinal plants: Utilization and conservation. 2nd (Jaipur, India: Aavishkar Publishers).
[35], Kaushik R. (2017). Studying the pharmacological basis of an antiepileptic ayurvedic formulation-Sarasvata churna. Int. J. Green Pharm. 11, 62–68.
[36], Lanni C, Lenzken SC, Pascale A, Del Vecchio I, Racchi M, Pistoia F, et al. Cognition enhancers between treating and doping the mind. Pharmacol Res. 2008; 57:196–213.
[37], Gazzaniga MS. New York: Harper Perennial; 2006. The Ethical Brain: The Science of Our Moral Dilemmas (P.S.) p. 184.
[38], Beg S, Swain S, Hasan H, Barkat MA, Hussain MS. Systematic review of herbals as potential anti-inflammatory agents: Recent advances, current clinical status and future perspectives. Pharmacogn Rev. 2011; 5:120–37. – PMC
[39], Kajaria D. An introduction to Sattvavajaya: Psychotherapy in ayurveda. Unique J Ayuvedic Herb Med. 2013; 01:10–3.
[40], Murthy AR, Singh RH. The concept of psychotherapy in Ayurveda with special reference to satvavajaya. Anc Sci Life. 1987; 6:255–61. – PMC
[41], Keon JP, James CS, Court S, et al. Isolation of the ERG2 gene, encoding sterol delta 8–>delta 7 isomerase, from the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea and its expression in the maize smut pathogen Ustilago maydis. Curr Genet. 1994;25:531–7. doi: 10.1007/BF00351674
[42], Rho H.S., Yoo D.S., Ahn S.M., Kim M.K., Cho D.H., Cho J.Y. Inhibitory activities of kojyl thioether derivatives against nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide. Bull. Korean Chem. Soc. 2010;31:3463–3466. doi: 10.5012/bkcs.2010.31.11.3463
[43], Clinical epidemiology of gastric cancerSingapore Med. J.(2014)
[44], W. Xu et al.Molecular targeted therapy for the treatment of gastric cancerJ. Exp. Clin. Cancer Res.(2016)
[45], M.M. GottesmanMechanisms of cancer drug resistanceAnnu. Rev. Med.(2002)
[46], Moreau R.A., Whitaker B.D., Hicks K.B. Phytosterols, phytostanols, and their conjugates in foods: structural diversity, quantitative analysis, and health-promoting uses. Prog. Lipid Res. 2002;41:457–500. doi:10.1016/s0163-7827(02)00006-1.