Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud.: A Review on its Ethnobotany, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile

Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud. commonly called as deodar, is a species of cedar native to the Western Himalayas in Eastern Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan, North-Central India, South Western Tibet and Western Nepal. The chemical constituents obtained from different parts of plant include wikstromal, matairesinol, dibenzylbutyrolactol, berating, isopimpillin, lignans 1, 4 diaryl butane, benzofuranoid neo lingam, isohemacholone, sesquiterpenes LIII: deodarone, atlantone, deodarin, deodardione, limonenecarboxylic acid, α-himacholone, β-himacholone, α-pinene, β-pinene, myrcene, cedrin (6-methyldihydromyricetin), taxifolin, cedeodarin (6-methyltaxifolin), dihydromyricetin and cedrinoside. Various parts of this plant are used in traditional system of medicine for the treatment of different ailments such as fever, inflammation, pain, ulcer, apoptosis, spasmodic, hyperglycemia, infections, insomnia, disorder of mind, disease of skin and blood. Recent in-vivo and in-vitro studies have indicated its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-hyperglycemia, antispasmodic, insecticidal, anti-apoptotic, anti-cancer, immmunomodulatory, molluscidal, anxiolytic and anticonvulsant properties. Exhaustive literature survey reveals that there are some activities which are still not validated scientifically. The current review compiles and presents an up-to-date comprehensive review of the traditional and folklore medicinal uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of Cedrus deodara plant.