ACORUS CALAMUS: AN OVERVIEW

In recent times, focus on plant research has increased all over the world. Acorus calamus is an important medicinal herb that is widely used. B asarone primary constituents Acorus calamus are manly believed to be responsible for its wide therapeutic actions. (Acorus calamus L., Araceae) is an aromatic herb, indigenous to Central Asia and Eastern Europe. The fragrant oils obtained by alcoholic extraction of the rhizome are mainly used in the pharmaceutical and oenological industries. Different parts of the plant showed the presence of large number of phenyl propanoids, sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes as well as xanthone glycosides, flavones, lignin lignans, steroids and inorganic constituents Alcoholic extracts of the triploid A. calamus were characterized by a higher percentage of b-asarone (11%), which was the main compound, followed by higher percentages of camphene (2.27%), E-b-ocimene (3.28%), camphor (1.54%), calarene (1.42%), a-selinene (5.02%) and s-cadinol (2.00%), when compared to the diploid A. calamus. The latter had higher percentages of iso- shyobunone(8.62%), b-sesquiphellandrene (3.28%), preiso calamendiol (22.81%) and acorone (26.33%), and completely lacked of b-asarone. It is also reported to possess insecticidal, lucicidal, anti-inflamatory, antibacterial, antiulcer radioprotective, antispasmodic, bronchodilatory, glucosidase inhibitory, insulin sensitizing, antiepileptic, anticholinestrase, larvicidal, antibacterial, mutagenic, anticonvulsant, neuroleptic, smooth muscle relaxant and smooth muscle stimulant activity.