Pharmacological Chemistry and Biomedical Implications of Chemical Ingredients from Parthenium hysterophorus

Parthenium hysterophorus L. belonging to the family Asteraceae is a noxious weed infestation with allelopathic effects with its lower economic value. It poses a serious risk to its surroundings. The presence of oils, polyphenols, flavones, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes, pseudoguaianolides, and histamines in P. hysterophorus makes it important and beneficial due to its medicinal properties. This review article is focused on the history, geographical distribution, chemical composition, and molecular structure of some phytochemicals and ethanopharmacological aspects of P. hysterophorus. The harmful effects of this weed have also been included. The information available from the existing literature revealed that P. hysterophorus is rich in various phytochemicals with different pharmacological activities. However, the complete analysis of different phytoconstituents isolated from P. hysterophorus and their specific properties are not fully understood. The sporadic information published in some journals suggests that this plant could be exploited to develop new drugs against certain diseases, including cancer, HIV-1 infection, and immunological disorders. The structure and mode of action of some compounds such as parthenin and stigmasterol were also discussed. Though the current information on P. hysterophorus indicates the ethnopharmacological implications of extracts of this plant, more systematic and extensive studies are still required to properly understand the contribution of its specific chemical constituents responsible for their various medicinal properties.