An updated Review on Prosopis Chilensis (Molina) Stuntz

Herbal medicine is the oldest form of health care known to mankind and it will not be an exaggeration to say that use of herbal drug for human health care is probably as ancient as mankind. Prosopis is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. The plant is also known as Algarrobo. The plant is found in the arid and semi-arid regions with ground water of between 3 and 10 m below the surface. It contains apigenin 8-glucoside, apigenin 6-glucoside, quercitin 3-glucoside, quercitin 3-rhamnoside, quercitin 3-rutinoside, and traces of myricetin 3-rhamnoside, luteolin, kaempferol-3-OMe quercetin, and quercitin 3-OMe. This plant is used for shade, timber, fuel, and concentrated forage for food, High protein content of the seeds suggests that they may be useful as protein supplement to poor grass. The pods are used as food. It is a good source of nectar and pollen.The bark exudes an amber-colored translucent gum used in mucilage and an ingredient in medicine. Water infused with the mesquite leaves can be used as eye drops. A ten percent infusion of the leaves shows some antibiotic activity.