World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Rajagopal et al. World Journal of Pharmace utical SJIF ImpactResearch Factor 7.523 Volume 7, Issue 1, 1693-1699. Review Article ISSN 2277– 7105 MOLLUGO CERVIANA (L.) – A REVIEW 1*P. L. Rajagopal, 1K. Aiswarya, 1K. R. Sreejith, 1K. Premaletha and 2S. Aneeshia 1Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pariyaram Medical College, Kannur, Kerala, India. 2Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Academy of Paramedical Sciences, Pariyaram Medical College, Kannur, Kerala. ABSTRACT Article Received on 15 Nov. 2017, As per data available over three- quarters of the world population relies Revised on 05 Dec. 2017, mainly on plants and plant extracts for their health care needs. More Accepted on 25 Dec. 2017 DOI: 10.20959/wjpr20181-10754 than 30 percentage of the entire plant species, at one time or other were used for medicinal purpose. It has been estimated, that in developed countries such as United States, plants drugs constitute as much as 25 *Corresponding Author percentages of the total drugs, while in fast developing countries such P. L. Rajagopal as India and China the contribution is as much as 80 percentage. The Department of Pharmacognosy and economic importance of medicinal plants is much more to countries Phytochemistry, Academy such as India than to rest of the world. These countries provide two of Pharmaceutical Sciences, third of the plants used in modern system of medicine and the health Pariyaram Medical College, care systems of rural population depend on indigenous systems of Kannur, Kerala, India. medicine. In this review an attempt has been made to compile an update information regarding this particular medicinal plant which would be beneficial for the researchers in this area. KEYWORDS: Mollugo cerviana, Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical, Pharmacological. INTRODUCTION Treatment with the medicinal plants is considered very safe as there no or minimal side effects. These remedies are in sync with nature, which is the biggest advantage. The golden fact is that, use of herbal treatment is independent of any age groups and the sexes. Mollugo cerviana is an annual erect, slender herb belonging to the family Molluginoceae, and is a species of flowering plant known by the common name thread stem carpet weed. It can www.wjpr.net Vol 7, Issue 1, 2018. 1693 Rajagopal et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research be found on most continents growing as a weed in many types of dry, sandy habitat types .It is annual herb producing a thin, erect stem up to about 20 cm tall. The narrow waxy leaves are up to 1.5 cm long, linear in shape, and arranged in whorls around the stem. The inflorescence is a loose umbel of tiny flowers each made up of whitish, petal- like sepals less than 2 mm long and not true petals. Mollugo cerviana, the plant is attributed with aperients, uterine stimulant antiseptic and febrifuge properties .It is used in stomach ache, flowers and tender shoots in decoction have a diaphoretic effect, roots are used in gout and rheumatism.[1] TAXONOMICAL PROFILE Kingdom : Plantae Sub kingdom : Tracheobionta Super division : Spermatophyta Division : Magnoliopsida Class : Dicotyledons Sub class : Caryophyllidae Order : Caryophyllales Family : Molluginoceae Genus : Mollugo L. Speceies : Mollugo cerviana (L.) PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the phytochemical constituents of Mollugo cerviana was conducted by P.Padmapriya and S Maneemegalaito find out the presence of phytochemicals in the methanol extracts of Molluginaceae family such as Mollugo cerviana. In qualitative analysis, the phytochemical compounds such as Carbohydrates, Saponins, Tannins, Terpenoids, Flavonoids, Steroids, Phenols, proteins, Alkaloids and absence of Glycosides were screened in extracts by using standard methods. In quantitative analysis the important secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, Vitamin C and Vitamin E were tested in the extracts[2]. The preliminary phytochemical analysis was conducted for the presence of bioactive compounds. The analysis revealed the presence of carbohydrates, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, phenols, proteins, alkaloids and absence of Glycosides[3]. www.wjpr.net Vol 7, Issue 1, 2018. 1694 Rajagopal et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research The amount of phytochemicals which are found in the Mollugo cerviana methanolic extract was quantitatively determined by standard procedures. The extracts of Mollugo cerviana showed different amount of various phytochemicals. The flavonoids content was highest followed by alkaloids, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Mollugo cerviana methanolic extract contained 12.01 mg of alkaloids, 15.06 mg of flavonoids, 8.33 mg of Vitamin C and 4.20 mg of Vitamin E were found. The Phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and Vitamins are secondary metabolites of plants that serve a defense mechanism against many microorganisms, insects and other herbivores[4]. Flavonoids are known to act as antioxidant by removing the highly unstable molecules called free radicals which damaged the body cells, thereby contributing to a variety of diseases such as cancer, inflammation, heart diseases and aging. Flavonoids are responsible for the antipyretic (fever-reducing), analgesic (pain-relieving) and spasmolytic (spasm-inhibiting) properties of these plants[5]. Alkaloids which are one of the largest groups of phytochemicals in plants have amazing effects on humans and this has led to the development of powerful pain killer medications[6]. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water soluble antioxidant, which prevents oxidative damage to the cell membrane induced by aqueous radicals[7]. The study showed the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the phytochemical constituents in the methanolic extract of the whole plant of Mollugo cerviana clearly reveals the presence of various biologically active compounds useful in treating various ailments in humans .This study also leads to the further research in the way of isolation and identification of the active compound from the plants using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques[8]. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of these extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, polyphenolics and saponins. Antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity of the extracts may be due to the rich amount of these phytochemicals[9]. The preliminary phyto chemical screening showed the presence of essential phyto constituents such as flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids and tannins[10]. www.wjpr.net Vol 7, Issue 1, 2018. 1695 Rajagopal et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research PHARMACOLOGICAL PROFILE Antibacterial activity Antimicrobial activities of the crude methanol extract as well as the ethyl acetate and n- butanol fractions from the whole plant of Mollugo cerviana were investigated by disc diffusion method. The extract and the fractions were tested against gram positive and gram negative bacteria strains. Anti-fungal activity against fungi strains like Aspergillus niger, mucor, Aspergillus fumigates and Candida albicans. DMSO as solvent. The values of zone of inhibitions were found out at 37º c for a period of 24 hrs. The plant extract had shown the ability to inhibit the growth of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria strains[11]. The ethanolic extracts of aerial shoots of Mollugo cerviana and its leaf derived callus were tested for antimicrobial activity using the filter paper disk assay method. Both the extracts showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia Coli[12]. Antiinflammatory activity The anti-inflammatory activity of E. littorale and M. cerviana was assessed by carrageenan- induced inflammation and cotton pellet granuloma method in rats. E. littorale and M. cerviana exerted 54 and 26% anti-inflammatory activity for a dose of 100 mg/100 g body wt, respectively, in carrageenan-induced acute inflammation. In chronic inflamation of cotton pellet granuloma, E. littorale and M. cerviana exerted 30 and 46% anti-inflammatory activity at the above dosage, respectively. The optimal dose for these drugs was determined in carrageenan inflammation. The effect of the alcoholic extract of these drugs on human erythrocyte membrane stabilization and inhibition of cobra venom phospholipase A2 was studied in vitro and the drugs were found to be effective. Further, these drugs were found to inhibit the levels of lipid peroxides, acid phosphatase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in the exudate of cotton pellet granuloma. The effects were compared with those of standard anti-inflammatory drug, hydrocortisone[13]. Hepatoprotective activity An attempt has been carried out to establish the hepatoprotective potency if Mollugo cerviana. In the present investigation the hepato protective activity alcoholic extract of Mollugo cerviana on CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity. The results revealed that all the enzymes were significantly increased in rats treated with CCl4compared with control rats. Silymarin (25 mg / kg) was used as positive control. Mollugo cerviana treated rats also showed a marked increase in activities of antioxidant enzymes. The increased activities of these www.wjpr.net Vol 7, Issue 1, 2018. 1696 Rajagopal et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research enzymes antioxidant defenses and hence increased scavenging of free radicals and decreased lipid peroxidation. The presence of flavonoids compound in the extract