Int J Curr Pharm Res, Vol 17, Issue 4, 10-14Review Article

A REVIEW ON HERBAL PLANTS WITH SKELETAL MUSCLE RELAXANT ACTIVITY

TAMANNA THAKUR*, AJEET PAL SINGH, AMAR PAL SINGH

Department of Pharmacology, St. Soldier Institute of Pharmacy, Lidhran Campus, Behind NIT (R. E. C.), Jalandhar–Amritsar by pass, NH-1, Jalandhar-144011, Punjab, India
*Corresponding author: Tamanna Thakur; *Email: tamannathr666@gmail.com

Received: 15 Apr 2025, Revised and Accepted: 14 Jun 2025

ABSTRACT

Nature affords us a rich source of plants with medicinal qualities that can lead the path to endless medication discoveries. Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to treat muscle spasm and stiffness. Muscle strain, which is a partial tear of a muscle, or sprain, which is a partial or whole rupture of a ligament, are frequently linked to muscle spasm, which is an abrupt involuntary contraction of one or more muscle groups. Many herbs as goods systematically in an effort to identify a viable substitute. The information was gathered for this review article in order to list the medicinal plants with skeletal muscle relaxant properties, the bioactive extract that is involved, the plant models that are used to evaluate the plants, and the potential therapeutic effects of the plants.

Keywords: Skeletal muscle relaxant, Herbs, Common names, Extract part, Mechanism of action, Benefits

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijcpr.2025v17i4.7005 Journal homepage: https://innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijcpr

INTRODUCTION

In the Indian subcontinent, medicinal plants are a valuable source of income. We are blessed by nature with an abundance of plants, and many various kinds of plants may be seen growing throughout the nation. All three levels of biodiversity-species variety, genetic diversity, and habitat diversity-are abundant in India. Thousands of species are known to have therapeutic potential in India, and using various sections of various medicinal plants to treat particular illnesses has been popular since ancient times. Because it is more culturally acceptable, more compatible with the human body, and has less adverse effects, herbal medicine continues to be the primary source of healthcare for 75–80% of the population, mostly in developing nations. Nonetheless, their use in the developed world has significantly increased in recent years. These days, the careless use of commercial antimicrobial medications, which are frequently used to treat infectious diseases, has led to the development of multiple drug resistance [1, 2].

About 40% of a person's weight is made up of skeletal muscles, which are vital to overall health. Maintaining your posture and carrying out your daily activities are controlled by your skeletal muscles. They support vital biological processes such energy metabolism, core temperature management, nutrient sensing, and organ and bone protection. Age-related declines in muscle function lead to a reduction in mobility. This can lead to fall-related injuries, disability, loss of independence, and a significant rise in mortality among the elderly. The progressive loss of muscle mass and function in the aged and chronically ill as a result of muscular fiber atrophy and loss is referred to as sarcopenia. It has a major impact on total mortality, long-term care needs, impairment, and loss of freedom. Sarcopenia is a complex illness whose origin is poorly understood. A class of illnesses known as MSDs mostly affects the connective tissues, muscles, joints, and bones. These illnesses rank among the most costly and incapacitating conditions in the US and are frequently reported to cause pain and loss of function [3, 4].

Benefits of herbal muscle relaxants

There are many advantages of herbal over traditional pharmaceutical muscle relaxants, particularly for those looking for a natural or medicinal approach to pain relief.

Future perspective of herbal skeletal muscle relaxants

There is a positive view of herbal skeletal muscle relaxants, especially in light of the preference for natural and safer forms of medications in comparison to using synthetic drugs. Compatibly, consumer consciousness is growing, particularly toward the side effects of conventional muscle relaxants (sedation, risk for dependence, and hepatotoxicity), and the offered treatments of herbal medicine are gaining attention in their therapeutic potential and holistic approach. One important area of opportunity is scientific validation through understanding through rigorous research. While there are many herbs recognized across human history for treatment of muscle relaxation, a limited number of herbs have been studied from a pharmacological perspective through the research process. Future research needs to determine in clinical trials within a controlled and reproducible experiment, research to assess pharmacodynamics dynamics, and long-term safety studies to provide good evidence addressing the muscle relaxant treatment efficacy of herbs. Another area of direction needs to include elucidating and separating active ingredients for each herbal product. The identification of a defined bioactive compound connected with the muscle relaxant effect will contribute to standardized products that may provide optimal dose and activity. Another major opportunity is advancing formulation technologies in combination with the active ingredient of a herbal product to help improve bioavailability, stability, and target delivery of efficacy of the herbal dosages. Potential examples include the role of nanotechnology, encapsulation, and polyherbal combinations to provide the desired therapeutic dosages. As herbal products advance into the marketplace, increased regulation is needed for quality control, safety, and labelling. Creating worldwide standards for herbal skeletal muscle relaxants could bring these agents more fully into clinical practice. Moving forward, interdisciplinary teamwork involving botanists, pharmacologists, clinicians, and traditional medicine clinicians will be critical to translate the knowledge of herbal therapy into evidence-based practice.

Table 1: List of herbal plants have activity on skeletal muscle relaxant

Name of the plant Common name Family Extract used Part used
Allium macrostemon [5] Chinese garlic Amarylliadaceae Aqueous Bulbs
Anemarrhena asphodeloides [6] Anemarrhena rhizome Liliaceae Aqueous Leaves
Aniba riparia [7] St. John's wort Lauraceae Ethanolic Unripe fruit
Areca catechu [8] Betel nut Arecaceae Dichloromethane, Ethanolic Areca nut
Bacopa monnierilinn [9] Brahmi scrophulariaceae Methanolic Aerial part
Bupleurumfalcatum [10] Chinese thoroughwax Apiaceae Methanolic Fruit
Camellia sinensis [11] Tea plant Theaceae Aqueous Leaves
Casimiroaedulis [12] White spoute Rutaceae Hydroalcholic Leaves
Cecropiaglazioui [13] Embauba cecropiaceae Aqueous Leaves
Centellaasiatica [14] Indian pennywort Apiaceae Ethanolic Leaves
Cissampelossympodialis [15] Abuta Menispermaceae Ethanolic extract Leaves
Clitoriaternatea [16] Butterfly-pea Fabaceae Methanolic Plant powder
Coleus forskohlii [17] Coleous Lamiaceae Aqueous leaves
Convolvulus pluricaulis Shankhpushpi Convolvulaceae Ethanolic Whole plant
Crocus sativuslinn [19] Saffron Iridaceace Aqueous, Ethanolic Petals
Curcuma longa [20] Turmeric zingiberacea Aqueous Root (rhizome)
Cayratia japonica [21] Bush killer Vitaceae Methanolic Whole plant and fruits
Echiumamoenum Red feathers Boraginaceae Aqueous dried flowers
Emblica officinalis [22] Amla Euphorbiaceae Aqueous Fruit
Evening primerose oil [23] Evening star/sun drop Onagraceae Hydroalcholic Seeds
Galphimiaglauca [24] Rain of gold malphigiacea Methanolic Whole plant
Gastrodiaelata [25] Tian ma orchidaceae Ethanolic Rhizome
Gentianakochiana [26] Trumpet gentian Gentianaceae Diethylether Aerial parts
Humuluslupulus [27] Hop Cannabaceae CO2 flowers
Hypericumperforatumlinn [28] Goatweed Hypericacaceae Aqueous-ethanolic Aerial part
Hypericumreflexum [29] Hypericum Hypericaceae) Methanolic Aerial part
Inula japonica [30] Elecampane roots Asteraceae Alcholic Flower, root
Japanese valerian Roots [31] Kesso root Valerianaceae Ehanolic Roots
Kielmeyera coriacea [32] Brazil Clusiacea Ethanolic Stems
Lafoensiapacari A [33] Didal Lythraceae Hydroalcholic Stem bark
Lepidiummeyenii [34] Maca Brassicaceae Aqueous Hypocotyls
Lobelia inflate [35] Indian tobacco Campanulaceae Methanolic Leaves
Magnolia officinalis [36] Beaver tree Magnoliaceae Aqueous Magnoliaceae Bark
Marsileaminuta [37] Dwarf waterclover Marsileaceae Ethanolic Whole plant
Mimosa pudica [38] Humble plant Mimosaceae Aqueous Leaves
Mitragynaspeciosa [39] Kratom Rubiaceae Ethanolic Whole plant
Myristica fragran [40] Nutmeg Myristicaceae N-Hexane Seeds
Nelumbonucifera Gaertn [41] Indian lotus Nymphacaceae Ethanolic Flower
Ocoteaduckei [42] Sweetweed -lauraceae Hydroalcoholic Whole plant
Paullinia cupan [43] Guarana Sapindaceae Methanolic Seeds
Perillafrutescents [44] Shiso Labiatae Aqueous Leaves
Plantagoasiatica [45] Asian plantain eng Plantaginaceae Petroleum ether SEEDS
Polygala tenuifolia [46] Snakeroot Polygalaceae Aqueous Roots
Psoraleacorylifolia [47] Bawchi Leguminosae Alcoholic Seeds
Radix puerariae [48] Kudzu root Leguminaceae Ethanolic Whole plant
Rhazyastricta [49] Senhwar Apocynaceae Aqueous Leaves
Rhizoma acoritatarinowii [50] Sweet flag Araceae Ethyl acetate roots
Rhodiolarosea [51] Roseroot Crassulaceae Hydroalcholic Leaves
Salvia elegan Vahl [52] Pineapple sage Lamiaceae Hydroalcoholic Aerial parts
SchinusmolleL [53] Brazilian peppertree Anacardiaceae Hexanic Leaves
Securidacalongepedunculata [54] Violet tree polygalaceae Aqueous Roots
Siphocampylus verticillatus [55] Mufumbo Campanulaceae Hydroalcoholic Aerial part
Sphaeranthus Indicus [56] Sanskrit Asteraceae Hydroalcholic flower
Valerianawallichii [57] Valerian Valerianaceae Aqueous, Methanolic, ethanolic Rhizome
Withaniasominiferalinn [58] Indian ginseng Solanaceae Methanolic Roots
Tabebuiaavellanedae [59] Moreton bay chestnut Bignoniaceae Ethanolic Bark, leaves
Tinaspora cardifolia [60] Giloe Menispermaceae Aqueous Whole plant
Trichiliacatigua [61] Catuaba Erythroxylaceae Hydroalcholic Root
Trigonellafoneum-graecum [62] Fenugreek Leguminosae Ethanolic and petroleum ether Seeds
Thymus pubescences [63] Firefly thyme Lamiaceae Methanolic Root
Zizyphus Officinal [64] Amla Rhamnaceae Alcoholic Rhizome
Zingiber officinale [65] Ginger zingiberaceae Hydroalcoholic Rhizome

Mechanism action of skeletal muscle relaxants [66]

Fig. 1: Flow diagram of mechanism action of skeletal muscle relaxants

CONCLUSION

To relieve discomfort, inflammation, and muscle stiffness, an ever-growing segment of the population is discovering herbal therapies. Many have come to believe that herbs, because they are “natural,” are safe. The truth is, herbs can present mild to severe adverse effects (including toxicity, allergies, and interactions with other medicines and medications). There are numerous herbal plants with good systematically in an attempt to discover substitutes such as medicinal and therapeutic effects. In this article, in order to list the medicinal plants with skeletal muscle-relaxant effects, the bioactive extract that is involved, the plant models that are used to evaluate the plants, and the potential for therapeutic effects of the plants.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

It’s our privilege to express the profound sense of gratitude and cordial thanks to our respected chairman Mr. Anil Chopra and Vice Chairperson Ms. Sangeeta Chopra, St. Soldier Educational Society, Jalandhar for providing the necessary facilities to complete this review work.

FUNDING

Nil

AUTHORS CONTRIBUTIONS

All authors have contributed equally

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

There are no conflicts of interest.

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