Paeonia emodi Royle: Ethnomedicinal uses,phytochemistry and pharmacology

Paeonia emodi (Peony) is a well known Himalayan medicinal plant used in the treatment of hypertension, palpitations, asthma, uterine diseases, colic, bilious obstructions and has also been used as an anticoagulant. Many of these ethnomedicinal properties have been experimentally proven in different animal models. The present work reviews the ethnopharmacology, therapeutic potential and phytochemistry of P. emodi. Different classes of natural products like triterpenoids, monoterpenoids, phenolics and tannins have been isolated from the species. These compounds possess wide therapeutic profile like cardiovascular and airway relaxant, lipoxygenase and β-Glucuronidase inhibitory and free radical scavenging properties.