Abstract

A REVIEW BASED ON APIUM GRAVEOLENS: ITS PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

Arvind Kumar*, Himanchal Sharma and Ashish Kumar

ABSTRACT

Since the ancient era, the mankind is facing with the disease and discomfort and is struggling to antagonize it with different approaches. Herbal drugs are not often considered first-line treatments these days, but unwelcome toxicity and side effects have many turning back to them. The present study was based on the Apium graveolens: its phytochemistry and biological activities. A. graveolens is a biennial plant locally known as “Karafs”, belonging to family Apiaceae. Various parts of A. graveolens are used in hepatic and spleen disorders, brain disorders, body pain, and sleep disturbances. Celery was first cultivated as a food plant in Europe, mainly in Italy and France. The root of the A. graveolens is shallow and thickened in the middle. The stem is branched, furrowed, succulent, and rigid. The leaves are pinnate and ovate in shape. The size of flower is small and it is white/greenish-white. The dried ripe fruit (sometimes called as seed) is mainly used for the medicinal purposes and commercially available in the market. Seed has been reported for constituents i.e., Caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, apiin, apigenin, rutaretin, ocimene, bergapten, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, petroselinic acid, d-limonene, selinene, terpineol, santolol and isopimpinellin. Celery has been used in the traditional system of medicine to treat spasm and stomach problems and as diuretic, laxative, and sedative. It is used as heart tonic to lower the blood pressure in African traditional medicine in Trinidad and Tobago. There is also a report to the use of celery in joint problems. It has been shown numerous biological properties i.e., antibacterial, antioxidant, larvicidal and mosquito repellent, anti-diabetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-ulcer, anti-spasmodic, anti-fungal, anti-platelet, cardiotonic. In conclusion, it has shown diverse pharmacological activities that might be due to presence of coumarin and flavonoids in abundance. It is advised that future research expand upon the medicinal and commercial uses of celery.

Keywords: Apium graveolens, celery, phytoconstituents, biological properties, anti-fertility.