Aftimoon (Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.): A Parasitic Plant with Therapeutic Potentials

Aftimoon (Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.) is a parasitic plant used in the management of various skin disorders like vitiligo, pityriasis, mental disorder like depression, epilepsy, etc. and it is used as mufrad (single drug) in the form of powder, decoction, concoction etc and in the murakkab (compound formulations) form in the Unani system of medicine. The plant belongs to genus Cuscuta and family Cuscutaceae. This parasitic plant grows on different host plants in India upto thousands of feets and is found abundantly in the rainy season. It is yellowish in colour with thin swirly stem grows on other plants and trees as parasite commonly called as Dodder in English. Unani physicians have been using this plant since time immemorial to treat various illnesses pertaining to the disorder of humours in the body. A number of biologically active compounds like amarbelin, cuscutin, cuscutalin, etc have been isolated and important and significant pharmacological actions like anti-cancerous, anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial activities etc on aftimoon (Cuscuta reflexa Roxb) is reported in various studies. This paper aims to review and summarise knowledge presented in the classical Unani text and various scientific research being conducted on Cuscuta reflexa Roxb in order to generate a data based on evidences which will be helpful to the future research endeavours.