FAGONIA CRETICA L.: A COMPREHENSIVE LITERARY REVIEW WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS AYURVEDIC PHARMACOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL

Fagonia cretica L. is a hardy medicinal shrub of the family Zygophyllaceae that has long been used in traditional healthcare practices of arid and semi-arid regions. In Ayurvedic-oriented literature it is commonly correlated with Dhamasa or Duralabha, although the identification of classical drug names with modern botanical species requires careful authentication. The plant has attracted scientific interest because extracts and isolated constituents have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities in experimental models. Its reported phytochemical profile includes flavonoids, phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, saponins, sterols and other secondary metabolites. From an Ayurvedic pharmacological perspective, the drug is discussed in relation to Pitta-dominant disorders, inflammatory conditions and respiratory complaints. Modern findings concerning oxidative stress, inflammatory mediators and cellular signaling provide useful hypotheses for understanding some of these traditional applications. However, most available evidence is preclinical, and substantial variation may occur according to species authentication, plant part, geography and extraction method. Therefore, standardized pharmacognostic studies, safety evaluation, pharmacokinetic investigations and well-designed clinical trials are required to establish its therapeutic value. This review integrates Ayurvedic concepts with contemporary phytochemical and pharmacological evidence and highlights the future scope of F. cretica as a potential source of therapeutically relevant natural products.