Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Homoeopathic Review of Arnica Montana Linn

Arnica Montana is a popular traditional remedy used in folk medicine and Homoeopathy to alleviate pain, inflammation and swelling of muscles and joints associated with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. It a high-altitude perennial plant that belongs to Asteraceae (Compositae) family and is native to the mountain slopes in Europe, northern Asia, Siberia, Canada and America. This review was conducted to summarize the available scientific information obtained from literature, medical databases, laboratory studies and human clinical studies on Arnica Montana Linn. Arnica Montana Linn. contains essential oil, fatty acids, thymol, pseudoguaianolide, sesquiterpene lactones (helenalin, 11α, 13-dihydrohelenalin and their fatty acid esters) and flavonoid glycosides (spinacetin, hispidulin, patuletin and isorhamnetin). The anti arthritic efficiency of Arnica Montana is attributed to a synergism of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The analgesic and antiinflammatory property of Arnica Monatana has been attributed at Helenalin. Helenalin also has anti-tumour activity against a variety of chemically induced tumours. It has been pharmacologically proven for arthritis, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-oxidant, wound healing and post operative healing properties. The homoeopathic preparations of Arnica Montana have been pharmacologically proven beneficial for arthritis, anti-inflammatory action, anti-haemorrhagic action, wound healing, post operative healing, cellulitis and furunculosis.