Aerva lanata: A Comprehensive Profile in the Pharmaceutical and food Industries

Aerva lanata (L.) Juss Ex. Schult is also known as Mount knotgrass and called Polphala or Gorakha Ganga belonging to the family of Amaranthaceae. There are medicinal properties present in each part of the plant including stem, leaves, flowers, etc. This article wishes to achieve ways in order to augment the application of this plant in varied sectors and stretch the therapeutic potential of Aerva lanata species pharmaceutically, in the cosmeceutical industry, agriculturally, and the food industry. Aerva lanata and all its manufactured-products are widely used as a substantial herbal medicine system. Although they are used traditionally by a huge number of people in local areas, its potential capability of therapeutic existence is still undiscovered. This organized review is an extensive compilation of all the detailed data on phytochemistry, wide ethnopharmacological uses, medicinal characteristics and commercially applicable formula of Aerva lanata in different sectors, with the potential of antimicrobial, antiparasitic, diuretic, and anti-urolithiasis, acute renal failure, anti-asthmatic, anti-infertility, anti-hyperglycemic and anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, anti-urolithiatic, nephroprotective, anti-ulcer, anti-HIV, anti-microbial, antioxidant etc. It will also pave a path for forthcoming research for the development of herbaceous drugs and other products to be used in agricultural and the food industry, largely contributing to the development of both these tracts.