RECENT ADVANCES IN THE PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF IPOMOEA OBSCURA (L.): A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker Gawl., which is known as Laksmana in Ayurveda, is a herb of medicinal value from the family Convolvulaceae. It has for a long time been used in various traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, microbial infections, gastrointestinal problems, liver diseases, and a number of chronic conditions. Recent phytochemical studies have shown that the plant contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, glycosides, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, tannins, and fatty acids. These phytoconstituents are linked to a wide range of pharmacological actions including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, cytotoxic, and antidiarrhoeal effects. This review gives a thorough summary of the botanical features, taxonomy, geographical distribution, ethnomedicinal significance, phytochemical composition, and the pharmacological activities that have been experimentally verified for Ipomoea obscura. Special attention is given to the mechanistic connection between oxidative stress and inflammation, a relationship that lies at the root of many chronic diseases. The review also examines the existing research gaps and outlines future directions regarding phytochemical standardization, mechanistic studies, toxicological evaluation, and clinical translation. The evidence currently available indicates that I. obscura represents a promising source of multifunctional phytotherapeutic agents for the management of disorders associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.