Fumaria sp.

Fumaria genus is a member of the family of Papaveraceae which are herbs known for their alkaloid content. They are widely distributed across the Mediterranean region, where they are used for different purposes. There are many reports for commercial and medicinal use of the various species of Fumaria. Ethnopharmacological evidence shows that they possess a wide range of properties such as digestive, diuretic, treatment for inflammatory, and painful ailments such as headache, abdominal pain, and toothache. These plants may also hold promise as natural source for potent hepatoprotective drugs since they contain the active constituent protopine. Pharmacological activity of Fumaria species is well documented for antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, hepatoprotective, cytotoxicity, and enzyme inhibition activities. Hence this chapter intends to discuss the Fumaria species and explore their potential economic importance.