Ethnomedicinal, ecological, phytochemical, nutritional and pharmacological aspects of Sanguisorba officinalis L. (Rosaceae): A comprehensive review

The medicinal properties of Sanguisorba species have been known since the 16th century and have been used in traditional folk medicine ever since. The genus Sanguisorba includes approximately 148 species and subspecies and belonging to Rosaceae family distributed mainly in East Asia and southern Europe. The most widespread species in the genus Sanguisorba is Sanguisorba officinalis L. Currently available S. officinalis L. reports in the literature were mostly found on Google Scholar, Pubmed, Web of Science, Lens.org and Scopus. This review provides a detailed and focused analysis of S. officinalis L., deliberately centering on its unique properties and existing literature, without drawing comparative analysis with other species within the Sanguisorba genus. This article focuses on the taxonomy, habitat, distribution, ethno-medicinal uses, botanical characterization, nutritional composition, chemical composition, pharmacological effects, insect interactions, and conservation status of S. officinalis. Moreover, the present work attempts to compile various phytochemical and bioactivity investigations conducted on S. officinalis; the resulting data consistently highlight its therapeutic prospects, as evidenced by the wide range of secondary metabolites and biological activities reported. Despite its promising potential, limited clinical data and standardization issues present challenges for its integration into modern medicine. The mechanisms of action, safety profile, and therapeutic efficacy of S. officinalis warrant further investigation.