Psoralea corylifolia Linn.: An Overview of Bioactive Compounds and Pharmacological Properties

Psoralea corylifolia Linn. (Fabaceae), also referred to as Babchi or Bakuchi, is a significant medicinal plant that is widely utilized in traditional medical systems, especially Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. The plant's wide range of pharmacological activities and rich phytochemical profile are well known. It has been reported that a wide variety of bioactive substances, such as coumarins, flavonoids, chalcones, isoflavones, meroterpenes, glycosides, and sterols, are present in different parts of P. corylifolia, particularly the seeds and fruits. The biological activities of major constituents like psoralen, isopsoralen, bakuchiol, psoralidin, bavachin, bavachalcone, and neobavaisoflavone have been thoroughly studied. The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antidepressant, antidiabetic, anti-Alzheimer's, antiprotozoal, immunomodulatory, and enzyme inhibitory properties of P. corylifolia have been shown in experimental investigations. Numerous processes, such as the control of inflammatory mediators, the alteration of oxidative stress pathways, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, neurotransmitter regulation, and enzyme inhibition, mediate the pharmacological effects. This review highlights P. corylifolia's therapeutic potential and supports its traditional medicinal uses by summarizing its botanical traits, phytochemical components, and pharmacological qualities. According to the information gathered, P. corylifolia is a valuable natural source of bioactive compounds and merits more research in order to create new therapeutic agents