Unearthing nature's remedy: an exploration into Lycopodium's medicinal and therapeutic potential

In recent years, complementary and alternative medicine has become popular among the general population due to their lower side effects, cost-effectiveness, ready availability, and extensive therapeutic benefits. Among available homeopathic remedies, extracts from Lycopodium species of the family Lycopodiaceae are widely used for the treatment of various system disorders (kidney, bladder, liver, gastrointestinal system, chronic lung diseases and neurodegeneration). Therapeutic benefits from the secondary metabolites and extracts of Lycopodium plants have been studied in various animal models. In fact, following the promising findings related to Huperzine A (Hup A), an active Lycopodium alkaloid extracted from Huperzia serrata, and its clinical efficacy in treating Alzheimer disease, Lycopodium has attracted more attention, and there has been an increase in phytochemical investigations to explore structurally interesting and bioactive Hup A type alkaloids. Studies on the clinical applications of these extracts will likely contribute substantially to drug innovation to treat a wide range of disorders. In addition, there is accumulating evidence for therapeutic benefits following the preparation and treatment of Lycopodium with certain techniques. The treatment of Lycopodium spores to remove cytoplasmic content and the inner layer of cellulose to create exine microcapsules has come under the spotlight for their potential use in drug delivery. This review aims to highlight the medicinal and therapeutic potential of Lycopodium species by firstly discussing the extracts of Lycopodium and their use medicinally, followed by a discussion on the preparation and treatment of Lycopodium and the associated potential medicinal uses.