Babchi (Psoralea corylifolia): From a Variety of Traditional Medicinal Application to its Novel Roles in Various Diseases: A Review

Psoralea corylifolia (Leguminosae) commonly known as babchi or babachi has been used in different traditional system of various aliments since, ancient time. Psoralea corylifolia grow throughout Asia and India or many other countries. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review on the phytochemical and pharmacological aspect of Psoralea corylifolia. In traditional medicine, it has been used in treatment of various diseases such as leucoderma skin diseases, cardiovascular diseases, nephritis, osteoporosis, and cancer vitiligo, poisoning, for conception, caries, deafness, filarial. The stem, seeds, leaves, of this plant containe a variety of biologically active compound such as flavonoids, coumarins, phenols, benzofurans, benzopyrans, quinines, sesquiterpenoids, triterpenoids, steroids, and some other components. Those have varuous medicinal properties. The different part of the plant showed the antimicrobial, antipregnancy, estrogenic, antitumor, antioxidant, and many other pharmacological activities. The article focus on traditional as well as modern use and various activities of the plant.