Psoralea corylifolia L. (Leguminosae) is a well-known vital medicinal plant
and has been used for treating a variety of diseases since ancient times. It is abundantly
available in nature and plays an imperative role in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines.
Studies on the ethnobotanical, ethnopharmacological, clinical, phytochemical, as well
as side effects of P. corylifolia were found in a variety of scholarly published
databases. These plant species have been thoroughly examined both in vivo and in vitro
approaches for diverse phytochemical and biological studies. It is used locally for
inflammation, alopecia, leukoderma, eczema, leprosy, and psoriasis and possesses
cardiotonic, antibacterial, vasodilator, pigment or cytotoxic, antitumor, and antihelminthic activities. Approximately more than a hundred bioactive chemicals have
been isolated from fruits and seeds so far, with the most important ones belonging to
the coumarins, flavonoids, and meroterpenes families. This chapter thoroughly
summarises the information on P. corylifolia's chemical ingredients and biological
activities, providing valuable information for future research and developments on this
powerful therapeutic plant.
Keywords: Ayurvedic, Biological activity, Pharmacology, Phytochemical, Psoralea.