Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences

Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences

Pharmacological horizons of Alhagi maurorum: A narrative exploration of its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anticancer, and immunomodulatory dimensions

Articles in Press

Document Type : Review Article

Authors
Mahboobeh Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar 1, 2
Mostafa Rashki 3
Mohammad Reza Aslani 4
Hesham R. El-Seedi 5, 6, 7
Mohammad Hossein Boskabady 3, 8
1 Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2 Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3 Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4 Lung Diseases Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
5 Pharmacognosy Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Box 591, SE 751 24, Sweden
6 International Research Center for Food Nutrition and Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
7 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, 32512 Shebin El-Kom, Egypt
8 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
10.22038/ijbms.2026.95077.20505
Abstract
Alhagi maurorum Medik. (A. maurorum), belonging to the Fabaceae family, a desert-adapted botanical with deep ethnomedicinal roots, has recently garnered attention for its multifaceted pharmacologic potential. This narrative review explores the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anticancer, and immunomodulatory properties of A. maurorum, emphasizing its mechanistic depth and translational relevance across preclinical contexts. A systematic literature search was conducted until June 2026 using multiple scientific databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. In vitro and in vivo studies investigating the pharmacological effects and mechanistic pathways of A. maurorum were searched. The evidence demonstrates that A. maurorum exerts anti-oxidant activity via ROS scavenging and Nrf2/HO-1-mediated up-regulation of endogenous defenses. Its anti-inflammatory effects stem from NF-κB and COX-2, coupled with enhanced expression of IL-4 and IL-10. Immunomodulation is achieved through mucosal immune engagement, IgA transport, dendritic cell maturation, and T-helper cell modulation. Anti-apoptotic effects are driven by caspase suppression, Bax down-regulation, and Bcl-2 up-regulation, while anticancer properties include selective cytotoxicity, anti-metastatic signaling inhibition, and nanoparticle biosynthesis for targeted delivery. By integrating traditional botanical knowledge with molecular pharmacology, A. maurorum emerges as a transdisciplinary candidate for future biotherapeutic development. Its systemic efficacy, mechanistic versatility, and ecological adaptability collectively position it as a promising agent in the advancement of evidence-based integrative medicine. However, future research must address pharmacokinetics, dose optimization, and safety profiling. Well-designed clinical trials are urgently needed to validate efficacy, assess long-term tolerability, and guide standardized formulation development.
Keywords
Anti-oxidants
Cyclooxygenase2
Dendritic cells
Immunoglobulins
Inflammation
Integrative medicine
Interleukins
Neoplasms
Subjects
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