MEDICINAL USES AND PHYTOCONSTITUENTS OF PAEONIA OFFICINALIS

Abstract

Paeonia officinalis (European peony, Common peony) has been cultivated in Europe for years. The root has been used medicinally for over 2,000 years mainly in the treatment for epilepsy and to promote menstruation. Root is also antispasmodic, diuretic, sedative and tonic and has been successfully employed in the treatment of convulsions and spasmodic nervous affections such as epilepsy. It has also been used in the treatment of whooping cough whilst suppositories are sometimes made of the root to relieve anal and intestinal spasms, hemorrhoids and varicose veins. Experimentally it has been proved to have antihypertensive, abortifacient action and anti-ulcer activity. The roots of this plant are of great medicinal significance in unani system and homeopathy. The roots contain asparagin, benzoic acid, flavonoids, paeoniflorin, paeonin, paeonol, protoanemonin, tannic acid, triterpenoids, and volatile oil. This review covers botany, traditional uses and the phytoconstituents of the roots of Paeonia officinalis