Asian Plant Research Journal

Botanical Characteristics, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Profile of Digera muricata (L.) Mart.: A Critical Narrative Review

Abdul Hameed — 2026-08-31

Digera muricata (L.) Mart. (Amaranthaceae), commonly known as false amaranth or tartara, is an annual wild edible herb distributed through parts of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and South Asia. It occupies an unusual position at the interface of weed ecology, traditional food use and ethnomedicine. This critical narrative review integrates botanical, ethnobotanical, nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological evidence available up to 26 June 2026. Live searches were undertaken across PubMed, PubMed Central, DOAJ, Semantic Scholar, Google Scholar, AGRIS and relevant regional scholarly sources, supplemented by backward and forward citation searching. Particular emphasis was placed on authenticated plant identity, analytical quality, model relevance, reproducibility and the distinction between biochemical activity and clinically meaningful efficacy. The botanical literature supports a stable placement of D. muricata within Amaranthaceae and documents diagnostic vegetative, floral and pollen characters, although older pharmacognostic descriptions are uneven in voucher reporting. Phytochemical studies consistently indicate phenolic, flavonoid, sterol, terpenoid and related constituents, with quercetin, β-caryophyllene and phytosterol-rich fractions receiving the strongest direct analytical support. Newer mass-spectrometric work expands the candidate metabolite space but remains predominantly qualitative. Pharmacological evidence is concentrated in antioxidant assays, toxin-induced rodent organ-injury models, antimicrobial screening, macrophage experiments and limited cancer cell-line work. Renal, hepatic and testicular protection in chemically injured rodents is internally coherent with antioxidant mechanisms, but the evidence derives from small preclinical studies using incompletely standardised extracts. Likewise, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic and anticancer findings remain exploratory because extract composition, positive controls, exposure metrics and replication vary substantially. No robust clinical evidence was identified. The most defensible interpretation is therefore that D. muricata is a nutritionally and chemically interesting wild edible species with multiple experimentally supported bioactivities, but not yet a clinically validated medicinal agent. Future work should prioritise taxonomically authenticated material, quantitative metabolomics, extract standardisation, pharmacokinetics, dose-response toxicology, mechanistic replication and appropriately powered translational studies.

Comparative Assessment of Soil Physico-chemical Properties in Invasive and Non-invasive Soil Habitats of Lakhimpur District, Assam, India

Vara Durga Murari Gunnam — 2026-08-10

Invasive alien plant species (IAPS) are recognised as major drivers of ecosystem degradation, altering soil properties and nutrient cycling, thereby facilitating their establishment and spread. The present study evaluated the influence of invasive plant species on the physicochemical characteristics of soils in roadside and agricultural habitats of Lakhimpur District, Assam, India. Seasonal field surveys were conducted during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon periods to assess the occurrence and frequency of invasive plant species and to collect soil samples (0–20 cm depth) from invaded and adjacent non-invaded (control) plots. Soil samples were analysed for key physicochemical parameters using standard analytical methods, and the data were statistically evaluated using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's HSD post hoc test. Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to examine relationships among soil variables and to identify the principal factors distinguishing invaded and non-invaded habitats.

A total of fourteen invasive alien plant species were recorded, among which Eichhornia crassipes, Mikania micrantha, Chromolaena odorata, and Parthenium hysterophorus were the most dominant at the study sites. Invaded soils exhibited slightly lower pH (5.6–6.2) but significantly higher organic matter (3.4–4.5%) and total nitrogen (15–34 mg kg⁻¹) than non-invaded soils (p < 0.05), indicating enhanced nutrient accumulation in invaded habitats. Multivariate analysis further demonstrated clear separation between invaded and non-invaded sites based on soil characteristics, suggesting that invasive species substantially modify soil conditions and nutrient dynamics. These changes are likely to create positive soil–plant feedback that enhance the persistence and competitive advantage of invasive species while impeding the regeneration of native vegetation. The findings highlight the importance of habitat-specific management strategies, including timely removal of invasive biomass, restoration with native plant species, and continuous monitoring of soil quality, to reduce invasion-induced soil nutrient enrichment and support long-term ecosystem restoration in the region.

Assessment of Hematologic-Enhancing Potentials and Toxicity of Aqueous Fraction of Justicia secunda (Vahl) Leaf on Phenylhydrazine-Induced Anaemic Albino Rats

Josiah Kelechi Ndukwe — 2026-08-26

Anaemia remains a major health challenge, and the search for affordable, accessible, and biologically effective plant-based therapies has increased interest in medicinal plants traditionally used for blood-related disorders. This study evaluated the blood-enhancing potential and toxicity profile of the aqueous fraction of Justicia secunda Vahl leaf extract in phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced anaemic albino rats. The aqueous fraction was subjected to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis to characterise its phytochemical constituents. Acute toxicity was evaluated using graded oral doses of 10–5000 mg/kg body weight. Anaemia was induced with phenylhydrazine, after which animals were allocated to normal control, standard drug-treated, untreated anaemic, and J. secunda-treated groups receiving 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg body weight of the aqueous fraction. Haematological indices, including packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count and erythrocyte indices, were assessed together with total and differential leukocyte counts. Serum iron, total iron-binding capacity and unsaturated iron-binding capacity were also determined. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were evaluated as indices of oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. GC–MS analysis identified several classes of compounds, with aliphatic hydrocarbons (43.35%), fatty acids (26.08%), aldehydes (13.69%), phenolic compounds (14.82%), and aromatic halogenated compounds (0.31%) predominating. No mortality or overt signs of toxicity were observed at doses up to 5000 mg/kg, indicating a relatively wide acute oral safety margin. Administration of the aqueous fraction was associated with improvement in haematological parameters and modulation of iron-related, antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers in PHZ-induced anaemic rats. The findings suggest that J. secunda leaf aqueous fraction possesses blood-enhancing and antioxidant properties and may support recovery from chemically induced haemolytic anaemia. However, further mechanistic investigations, subchronic toxicity studies, and clinical investigations are warranted to establish its therapeutic safety and efficacy.