Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and toxicity study of Bambusa bambos (L.) voss: a comprehensive overview

Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss is a well-known herb from Poaceae family used in traditional medicine by Unani and Ayurveda. It has been mentioned in the classical ethno-botanical literature since fifth century as a therapeutic and preventive medicine for various ailments, including blood disorders, tuberculosis, bronchitis, asthma, fever, leprosy, strangury, bloody diarrhea, diabetes mellitus, gonorrhea, piles, stomatitis, and amenorrhea. An analysis of phytochemicals from various parts plants has revealed a diverse array of chemical constituents including silicic acid, vitamins, minerals, waxes, resins, benzoic acid, proteolytic enzymes, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds. Furthermore, the herb has undergone diverse assessments via preclinical studies, demonstrating a range of pharmacological activities. But unfortunately the data has not been utilized to prove their efficacy in clinical studies. It is very limited, as compared to the plethora of treasure in Bamboo. This systemic review aims to consolidate the historical and current information on the ethnobotanical characteristics, phytochemical components, extracted metabolites, and pharmacological properties of B. bambos (L.). The information was sourced from literature, including books, research papers, review articles, and reports available in recognized scientific databases, such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, Springer Link, ScienceDirect and Elsevier from 1985 to 2023. Additionally, classical Unani texts in Arabic, Persian, English and Urdu were consulted to gather detailed information. This review provides the most current information available on Bambusa bambos (L.). After thorough analysis, a total of 94 articles were used for this review. By aligning this information with the principles of traditional and complementary medicine, this study will provide valuable data that may help researchers and pharmaceutical companies to develop new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of disease However, further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, effectiveness specifically in clinical set-up in addressing different pathologies which can be utilized to cure ailments.