Antioxidant Potential and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br.: A Comprehensive Narrative Review
S. E. Neelagund *
Department of Biochemistry, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, India.
Madhuri Sathyanarayana
Department of Food Technology, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, India.
M. Meghana
Department of Biochemistry, MMK and SDM Mahila Mahavidhyala, Mysore, India.
S. P. Manoj
Department of Biochemistry, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br. (Indian sarsaparilla; Apocynaceae), widely recognised by its Sanskrit designation Anantamool, is a perennial climbing shrub indigenous to the Indian subcontinent that has occupied a central position in Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani medicine for millennia. Its aromatic root system harbours a rich phytochemical repertoire encompassing the principal volatile constituent 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (HMBA), lupeol-based glycosidic derivatives (hemidesmin-1 and hemidesmin-2), β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, hyperoside, rutin, and a spectrum of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids. These structurally diverse secondary metabolites underlie a broad array of biological activities that have attracted intensifying scientific scrutiny since the beginning of the twenty-first century. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the antioxidant potential and therapeutic mechanisms of Hemidesmus indicus. Literature searches were conducted in 2000 and 2026 with the selected keywords. Approximately 380 records were identified, of which 30 studies met the inclusion criteria after screening and full-text review. The present narrative review synthesises contemporary evidence regarding the antioxidant potential of H. indicus, elucidating operative mechanisms including free radical scavenging, metal ion chelation, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and upregulation of endogenous antioxidant defence enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Beyond antioxidant activity, the review consolidates evidence pertaining to anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and immunomodulatory properties. Mechanistic insights into modulation of the NF-κB pathway, COX-2 inhibition, and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis are critically evaluated. The preponderance of evidence indicates that H. indicus possesses significant therapeutic promise; however, the field is constrained by a paucity of rigorously designed clinical trials, insufficient standardisation of extracts, and incomplete pharmacokinetic profiling. This review identifies these lacunae and proposes directions for future research, including phytochemical standardisation, mechanism-focused in vivo investigation, and evidence-based clinical enquiry to facilitate translation into validated therapeutic applications.
Keywords: Hemidesmus indicus, Indian sarsaparilla, Anantamool, antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective