Symptom → Plant Sources
Common yellow woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta) as a tool for helping with Wounds
Promotes wound/fracture healing; traditional topical use.
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Oxalis corniculata L. is a well-known herb valued for its dual edible and medicinal properties, with its acidic compounds endowing food with a distinct flavor and enhancing its value. This study identified the active compounds in its ethanol extract (OCEE) and clarified the molecular mechanisms underlying its fracture-healing effects. UHPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS was used for comprehensive chemical profiling of OCEE, and network pharmacology was applied to explore therapeutic targets and signaling pathways related to fracture treatment. Molecular docking (MD), molecular dynamics simulations (MDS), and in vitro cell assays further validated the core mechanisms. A total of 549 compounds were identified in OCEE, with naringenin-7-O-glucuronide, chrysophanol-8-O-glucoside, and 2-oxo-3-phenylpropanoic acid as key potential active components. These compounds targeted GAPDH, TNF, TP53, and other core proteins, which are involved in nitrogen metabolism, IL-17 signaling, and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways critical for fracture healing. MD and MDS confirmed strong binding affinities between key compounds and core targets, and qPCR results revealed that OCEE significantly upregulated the expression of TNFα, MMP9, and ESR1 while downregulating TP53 expression in vitro. These findings clarify the material basis and molecular pathways of OCEE in promoting fracture healing and provide experimental evidence for its application as a functional food and natural agent for bone health and fracture recovery.
1 source supporting Common yellow woodsorrel for Wounds. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's antimicrobial, astringent, vulnerary (wound healing) actions. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
Purpose To analyze phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, antimicrobial activity and α-glucosidase, cholinesterase and Monoamine oxidase inhibitory potential of Oxalis corniculata extract. Methods Phytochemicals of the 70% ethanolic extract of O. corniculata were quantitatively determined by standard spectrophotometric method. The anti-oxidative and antibacterial potential were investigated by DPPH scavenging test and by well-diffusion method respectively. The p-NPG technique was applied to evaluate α-glucosidase inhibition potential. Moreover, cholinesterase and Monoamine oxidase -A & -B activities were examined by Elman's method and fluorometric kynuramine deamination test respectively. Results Phytochemical study revealed the presence of tannin quantity in range 586 ± 0.05 µg/mg followed by flavonoid; 154.83 ± 0.04 µg/mg and phenolic contents; 135.29 ± 0.01 µg/mg. DPPH radical scavenging of the extract indicates good IC50 value 40.74 µg/ml according to the standard ascorbic acid; 25.79 µg/ml. The bacterial inhibition revealed that the extract were high inhibitory against E. coli, H. influenza and k. pneumonia while showing no inhibition against Acetobactor aceti. Similarly, Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase inhibition result revealed that O. corniculata have effective anti-cholinesterase potential with the IC50 value of Acetylcholinesterase; 34.54 µg/ml and Butyrylcholinesterase; 8.91 µg/ml. Moreover, O. corniculata has good potential against MAO-B inhibition with an IC50 value; 60.68 µg/ml, while showing IC50 value; 274.23 µg/ml against MAO-A. Furthermore, the inhibitory potential against α- glucosidase of the extract shows significant IC50 value (40.59 µg/ml). Conclusion O. corniculata exhibits potential as a valuable reservoir of natural bioactive compounds endowed with a wide array of health-promoting properties.
Antibacterial activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of two medicinal plants including Oxalis corniculata (EtOc, AqOc) and Artemisia annua (EtAa, AqAa) as well as A. annua essential oil (EoAa) was investigated on multi-drug resistance (MDR) E. coli . Microdilution and agar well diffusion methods were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) as well as the inhibition zone. The phytconstituents of these products were analyzed using Reverse-phase High- performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-mass). The order of bacteriostatic and bacteriocide rate of the products can be shown as follows: EoAa>AqOc>EtAa = AqAa>EtOc, but the bactericidal effect of A. annua extracts is higher than of O. corniculata based on the MIC/MBC ratio and the order is as follows: EoAa>EtAa = AqAa>EtOc>AqOc. The most potent product, i.e. EoAa with a 56.7% inhibition of all isolates, has the potential to substitute 13 used antibiotics including oxacillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, tetracycline, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, cefazolin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ceftazidime and cefixime ( P ). Different terpenoids were detected and measured in EoAa and catechin flavonoids in extracts of both plants, quercetin in extracts of O. corniculata but it was only possible to detect chlorogenic acid polyphenol in AqAa. Due to the antibacterial activities of the studied products, more effective than some antibiotics and their edible consumption, these products can be suggested as an alternative to some antibiotics and food preservatives to fight against MDR E. coli.
Oxalis corniculata is a naturally occurring weed that has been used in traditional medicine for the cure of dysentery and diarrhea in India. One of the common causes of dysentery is due to infection by the protist pathogen Entamoeba histolytica. Bioactivity profiling of extracts from O. corniculata identified several compounds that showed antiamoebic activity in axenic cultures of E. histolytica. These were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, and mass spectrometry as (i) Oc-1, a mixture of saturated fatty acids C₂₄ to C₂₈; (ii) Oc-2, a mixture of long-chain alcohols C₁₈ to C₂₈; and (iii) Oc-3, a single compound that was a galacto-glycerolipid (GGL). Of the different compounds that were obtained, the strongest antiamoebic activity was found in GGL. The addition of GGL to E. histolytica xenic cultures containing other microbial flora from the large intestine did not affect its antiamoebic activity. Amoebicidal concentrations of GGL had no effect on intestinal microbial flora or on the mammalian cell line HEK-293. GGL was also found to be equally effective in killing another protist pathogen, Giardia lamblia, that causes diarrhea in humans. The importance of this study is based on the identification of novel natural products and the possibility of developing these compounds as active agents to treat at least two pathogenic parasitic intestinal infections endemic to tropical regions.
Oxalis corniculata (Oxalidaceae) is a small decumbent and delicate appearing medicinal herb flourishing in warm temperate and tropical domains such as Pakistan and India. Main bioactive chemical constituents of Oxalis plant include several alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, and phlobatannins, along with steroids. Due to its polyphenolic, glycosides and flavonoid profile, it is proved to be protective in numerous ailments and exhibit various biological activities such as anti-fungal, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, and cardioprotective. Moreover, bioactive phytochemicals from this plant possess significant wound healing potential. Our current effort intends to emphasize on the immense significance of this plant species, which have not been the subject matter of clinical trials and effective pharmacological studies, even though its favored usage has been stated. This review proposes that Oxalis corniculata possess a potential for the cure of various diseases. However, further researches on isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds along with pre-clinical trials are compulsory to figure out its pharmacological applications.
Oxalis corniculata L., a globally distributed herbaceous plant, has garnered significant scientific interest for its extensive phytochemical richness and diverse pharmacological potential. This review comprehensively explores the plant's chemical diversity, nutritional profile, and biomedical applications by synthesizing findings from recent studies. The plant is notably abundant in flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, tannins, and essential nutrients, which contribute to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and wound-healing properties. Various extraction techniques and analytical approaches have identified key bioactive compounds responsible for these therapeutic effects. Furthermore, its traditional use as an edible plant aligns with current trends in nutraceutical and functional food development. The integration of O. corniculata into modern healthcare, however, requires standardization of dosage, safety profiling, and clinical validation. Current gaps in pharmacokinetics, toxicity data, and multi-omics characterization underscore the need for future interdisciplinary research. The review concludes that O. corniculata holds immense promise as a phytopharmaceutical candidate and nutritional resource, provided its applications are grounded in rigorous scientific validation. This work provides a consolidated reference for future pharmacognostic, nutritional, and clinical studies aimed at unlocking the full therapeutic potential of this underutilized medicinal herb.