A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF WILD SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM SPONTANEUM LINN.)

Saccharum spontaneum L., commonly known as Kasa and belonging to the Poaceae family, is a perennial grass native to tropical Asia with extensive traditional medicinal uses. It addresses various ailments such as burning sensations, obesity, dyspepsia, mental illness, urinary tract infections, and reproductive and respiratory issues. In Ayurveda, it functions as an astringent, emollient, diuretic, purgative, tonic, and aphrodisiac. The Siddha system also utilizes Kasa for mental disorders, abdominal issues, dyspnoea, anaemia, and obesity. Phytochemical studies demonstrate its richness in quinones, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, proteins, coumarin, phenols, steroids, terpenoids, and glycosides. This review details the plant’s chemical composition, safety, traditional applications, and pharmacological effects. Modern pharmacological research validates these claims, notably its anti-urolithiatic activity, diuretic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and CNS modulatory effects observed in various studies. The review highlights the comprehensive evidence supporting Kasa’s use in managing renal calculi and inflammatory conditions, advocating for further clinical studies to explore its potential in standardized phytopharmaceutical development.