Asperugo Procumbens: a Review of Botany, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Asperugo procumbens is a medicinal plant widely distributed in the world, which is commonly used in the traditional medicine of the Middle East, while currently overlooked in European pharmacopoeias. The aim of the study is to present a comprehensive overview of A. procumbens in botany, traditional medicine, phytochemistry and pharmacology according to the up-to-date data. Scientific literature on the species was collected based on publicly available databases such as: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google, Google Scholar as well as monographs and PhD theses. In traditional medicine the aerial part of A. procumbens is used for treatment of skin infections, herpes, liver and respiratory tract diseases, to strengthen the heart and the nervous system, and others. Contemporary studies on the pharmacological activity of A. procumbens revealed that it exhibits a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, antidepressant, sedative-hypnotic, antibacterial, as well as chemopreventive and antihypertensive properties. Despite many proven medicinal properties, the species does not have a developed phytochemical profile and its chemical composition is very poorly understood. The species is known to contain tannins, flavonoids and phenolics. Only the content of fatty acids is recognised in detail. The species is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids - stearidonic acid (SDA), a-linolenic acid (ALA), and omega-6 fatty acid - gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). This article, based on the available literature, highlights the traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of A. procumbens, which may provide a foundation for further pharmacological study as well as clinical application of the species.