A systematic review on phytochemical constituents, pharmacological properties and ethnic uses of Ailanthus excelsa Roxb

Ziziphus nummularia, a small bush of the Rhamnaceae family, has been widely used in traditional folk medicine, is rich in bioactive molecules, and has many reported pharmacological and therapeutic properties. Objective: To gather the current knowledge related to the medicinal characteristics of Z. nummularia. Specifically, its phytochemical contents and pharmacological activities in the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, are discussed. Methods: Major scientific literature databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Chemical s, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants s, Henriette’s Herbal Homepage, Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases, were searched to retrieve articles related to the review subject. General web searches using Google and Google scholar were also utilized. The search period covered articles published between 1980 and the end of October 2021.The search used the keywords ‘Ziziphus nummularia’, AND (‘phytochemical content’, ‘pharmacological properties, or activities, or effects, or roles’, ‘anti-inflammatory’, ‘anti-drought’, ‘anti-thermal’, ‘anthelmintic’, ‘antidiabetic’,’ anticancer’, ‘anticholinesterase’, ‘antimicrobial’, ‘sedative’, ‘antipyretic’, ‘analgesic’, or ‘gastrointestinal’). Results: This plant is rich in characteristic alkaloids, especially cyclopeptide alkaloids such as nummularine-M. Other phytochemicals, including flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, tannins, and phenolic compounds, are also present. These phytochemicals are responsible for the reported pharmacological properties of Z. nummularia, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antidiabetic, anticancer, analgesic, and gastrointestinal activities. In addition, Z. nummularia has anti-drought and anti-thermal characteristics. Conclusion: Research into the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Z. nummularia has demonstrated that this plant is a rich source of novel bioactive compounds. So far, Z. nummularia has shown a varied pharmacological profile (antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective), warranting further research to uncover the therapeutic potential of the bioactives of this plant. Taken together, Z. nummularia may represent a new potential target for the discovery of new drug leads.

Bamboos are a versatile non-timber subfamily that has been utilized for various purposes. Generally, bamboo leaves are used as traditional medicine to treat diseases such as cough, rheumatism, influenza, fever, skin disease, heart disease, and malaria. The bamboo extracts contain a wide range of functional groups that are responsible for pharmacological activities. The objective of this review article is to provide in-depth discussion on botany, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological properties, and toxicity of bamboo plant extract. Phytochemical studies showed that a total of 21 functional groups were detected from bamboo leaves, stems, and seeds. In addition, volatile compounds that produce aromatic odor also were detected from the bamboo extract. Meanwhile, pharmacological studies revealed that bamboo extract exhibited several pharmacological properties including anti-diarrheal, analgesic effect, antimalarial, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-diabetic, wound healing, anticancer, and hepatotoxicity. The toxicity study found that bamboo extract is safe for consumption and did not show harmful effects. A review of phytochemical constituents and pharmacological properties in plants is important for several purposes such as new drugs discovery and understanding the mechanisms, safety, and efficacy of the bioactive compounds to treat various diseases.

Psidium guajava, belonging to the Myrtaceae family, thrives in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. This important tropical fruit finds widespread cultivation in countries like India, Indonesia, Syria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and South America. Throughout its various parts, including fruits, leaves, and barks, guava boasts a rich reservoir of bioactive compounds that have been traditionally utilized as folkloric herbal medicines, offering numerous therapeutic applications. Within guava, an extensive array of Various compounds with antioxidative properties and phytochemical constituents are present, including essential oils, polysaccharides, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, triterpenoids, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, and saponins. Notably, different components of the plant, comprising leaves and fruits, contribute to a spectrum of medicinal benefits. These encompass antimicrobial potency and potential anti-cancer properties. This study Investigates the phytochemical constituent and pharmacological activity of Guava by using previous studies and reports to collect more information about the guava plant. versatile properties extend to various therapeutic domains. The fruit has showcased its potential in domains like antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-allergy, and anti-plasmodial effects. Both guava leaves and fruits have been historically employed to address an array of conditions, including gastroenteritis, hypertension, diabetes, dental caries, and pain relief. While guava's pharmacological attributes are well-recognized, also all parts of guava have many phytochemical constituents. This review study shows the most important phytochemical constituents and pharmacological properties, it is vital to emphasize the need for further research. Enhanced understanding of the main mechanisms of action and the possible health advantages associated with guava necessitates continued investigation.

Many herbal remedies individually or in combination have been recommended in various medical treatises for the cure of diff erent diseases. Th e Pongamia pinnata, commonly known as ‘Karanj’, has been recognized in diff erent system of traditional medicines for the treatment of diff erent diseases and ailments of human beings. It contains several phytoconstituents belonging to category fl avonoids and fi xed oils. Th e fruits and sprouts of P. pinnata were used in folk remedies for abdominal tumours in India, the seeds for keloid tumours in Sri Lanka and a powder derived from the plant for tumours in Vietnam. In Sanskritic India, seeds were used for skin aliments. Today, the oil is used as a liniment for rheumatism. Leaves are active against Micrococcus; their juice is used for cold, cough, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, fl atulence, gonorrhoea and leprosy. Roots are used for cleaning gums, teeth and ulcers. Bark is used internally for bleeding piles. Juices from the plant as well as oil are antiseptic. In the traditional systems of medicines, such as Ayurveda and Unani, the P. pinnata plant is used for anti-infl ammatory, anti-plasmodial, anti-nonciceptive, anti-hyperglycaemics, anti-lipidoxidative, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-ulcer, anti-hyperammonic and antioxidant. Its oil is a source of biodiesel. It has also alternative source of energy, which is renewable, safe and non-pollutant. Key words: Karanj, Pongamia pinnata, phytochemical constituents, traditional uses and pharmacological properties

Carissa carandas l. (Karaunda) is a widely useful food and medicinal plant of India, Plant-based medicines play an important role in all cultures have been indispensable in maintaining health and combating diseases. Owing to the global trend towards better quality of life, there is a great claim for medicinal plants. Carissa carandas l. plant popularly used as a traditional medicinal plant over thousands of years in the Ayurvedic, Unani, and Homoeopathic system of medicine. The major bioactive elements, which impart the medicinal worth of herbs, are alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and huge amounts of cardiac glycosides, triterpenoids, phenolic compounds, and tannins. Traditionally, the whole plant and its parts were used in the treatment of various ailments. It contains several phytochemical constituents belonging to the terpenoids category. The root is attributed to bitter, stomachic; antidiarrheal, vermifuge, and ant anthelmintic properties. The medicinally unripe fruit is used as an astringent. The ripe fruit is taken as an antiscorbutic and therapy for nausea. The leaf decoction is appreciated in cases of alternating fever, diarrhea, oral inflammation, and earache. Also, Carissa carandas have showing a extensive range of evidence for its cardiotonic, hepatoprotective, free radical scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory, histamine-releasing, antirheumatic, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticonvulsant activity. A higher gross heat value of this species indicates its higher potential to be used as a good fuel source.
 Keywords: Carissa carandas , Phytochemical Constituents, Traditional Use, Pharmacological Properties.

Scientific exploration of traditional knowledge and its allure use in the treatment of various ailments is one of the thrust areas of research. Herbal medicines are in excellent demand in developed as well as developing countries for primary healthcare by way of their expansive biological and medicinal benefits, higher safety borders and lower costs. In the list of medicinal plants, Trachyspermum ammi (Apiaceae) ajwain is a plant encompassing a good record as a traditional Persian and Ayurvedic cure. Essential oil obtained from fruits or seeds of ajwain, known as ‘ajwain oil,’ holds various phytoconstituents and shows numerous biological and pharmacological properties. The present review aims to investigate the medical significance of different diseases and metabolic disorders in human beings. The ajwain seeds and their extracts contain different chemical constituents, including thymol (a principal constituent), β-pinene, α-terpinene, α-pinene, p-cymene, γ-terpinene, etc., revealed to retain antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, spermicidal, antiepileptic, antitussive, ameliorative, antihypertensive, antispasmodic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects. They also show digestive stimulant and gastro-protective properties as well as broncho-dilatory effects. Due to the presence of a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties, this plant holds good potential for its utilization in novel pharmaceutical preparations in the future. The present review is, therefore, an effort to summarize the detailed literature on phytochemical constituents and the pharmacological properties of T. ammi to explore its possible therapeutic application. Keywords: Essential oil, Trachyspermun ammi, Herbal medicine, Pharmacological property, ajwain

Ocimum gratissimum is a plant native to Africa. Its leaves have been used in local dishes over the years, with documented evidence of varying pharmacological uses of its essential oil. This review focuses on the extraction methods, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological uses and formulation approaches of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil. The traditional extraction methods that have been widely used include the solvent, cold press and hydrodistillation methods. However, newer methods such as steam distillation, ultrasound and microwave assisted hydrodistillation, supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction and pressurized hot water extraction methods have not been fully reported. These methods provide more yield of the essential oil compared with the traditional methods and their processes are less laborious. Furthermore, they are often limited to analytical applications as they cannot handle large quantities of samples. The phytochemical constituents of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil vary, based on location of the plant and the time of the season the plant parts were harvested for extraction. The African species have more thymol than eugenol. Other notable constituents are saponins, terpenes and flavonoids in both African species and others. The essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum bears the scent of the plant and other important properties such as protection of the plant from pests and to attract insects for cross-pollination. The essential oil of this plant has been noted to possess various pharmacological properties which explains its use in inflammatory conditions and the treatment of diarrhoeal disease, wound healing and cerebrovascular disorder, amongst others. The essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum has been embedded in gels, cream, silver nanoparticles and nanoemulsion to improve its pharmacological activity and bioavailability. This review article highlights the potentials of the essential oil of this ubiquitous plant as a therapeutic source for the treatment of different tropical diseases.

Withania somnifera is an important medicinal herb that has been widely used for the treatment of different clinical conditions. The overall medicinal properties of Withania somnifera make it a viable therapeutic agent for addressing anxiety, cancer, microbial infection, immunomodulation, and neurodegenerative disorders. Biochemical constituents of Withania somnifera like withanolideA, withanolide D, withaferin A and withaniamides play an important role in its pharmacological properties. Proteins like Withania somnifera glycoprotein and withania lectin like-protein possess potent therapeutic properties like antimicrobial, anti-snake venom poison and antimicrobial. In this review, we have tried to present different pharmacological properties associated with different extract preparations, phytochemical constituents and protein component of Withania somnifera. Future insights in this direction have also been highlighted.

The persistence of human diseases challenges the current state of the discovery and production of synthetic drugs. Plants are recognized as a great resource to discover chemical compounds that can be used for drug development. In the Philippines, Ehretia microphylla (tsaang gubat) is recognized by the Department of Health as one of the ten recommended medicinal plants. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the traditional use, phytochemical constituents, pharmacologic activities as well as the non-clinical and clinical studies leading to the NIRPROMP formulation of the tsaang gubat tablet indicated for biliary and gastrointestinal pain. Among the phytochemical constituents observed were flavonoids, phenolics, triterpenes, and alkaloids. Evidence for other pharmacologic properties such as antibacterial, anti-angiogenesis, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, folliculogenesis, wound healing and anti-cancer activities are presented. Currently, tsaang gubat tablet has been granted a full patent for its invention as a tablet for relieving symptoms of biliary and gastrointestinal colic and is registered with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration for these indications. The tsaang gubat tablet is listed in the Philippine National Formulary after the conduct of in vitro, in vivo and Phase I-III clinical trials. Future platforms for research include the reformulation of the existing tsaang gubat drug for other indications, determination of the molecular mechanism of action and plans for plant conservation.

The genus Datura comprises wild shrub plants that belong to the Solanaceae family. Naturally, they possess both medicinal and poisonous properties due to the presence of many biologically active phytochemical constituents. Traditionally, Datura had been used for mystic and religious purposes, as a natural drug to treat asthma, pain, gout, boils, abscesses, and wounds, and as psychoactive infusions and fumitories. Different Datura species exhibit diverse ethnopharmacological activities against different diseases, and many ancient and traditional cultures have used various forms of Datura to treat ailments and to prevent many diseases. In this article, we comprehensively summarize various phytochemical constituents isolated from Datura, their pharmacological properties against different diseases, parts of the plants used as traditional therapeutic agents, regions where they are located, and botanical descriptions of different Datura species. The ethnopharmacological properties of Datura may provide new insights for discovery and development of natural drugs. Further research is needed for the investigation of mechanisms of action and to develop safety profiles of the phytochemical constituents isolated from Datura species.

The genus Gouania (Rhamnaceae) comprises at least 50 recognized species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. Gouania species have been ethnomedicinally used to treat a variety of ailments. Despite their widespread medicinal use, there is no comprehensive documentation that consolidates the ethnobotanical knowledge, phytochemicals, pharmacological properties, and toxicity of Gouania species. Herein, this review details the ethnopharmacology, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological properties and toxicity of Gouania species to provide perspectives for future research on this genus. Based on available literature, herbal preparations from Gouania species have been used to treat ailments related to the digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, skin, musculoskeletal, reproductive, endocrine and urological systems. Extracts and isolated compounds from seven Gouania species (G. leptostachya, G. longipetala, G. lupulozdes, G. macrocarpa, G. longispicata, G. obtusifolia, and G. ulmifolia) have demonstrated promising anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiviral properties, supporting their ethnomedicinal uses. To date, 64 compounds (including 6 phenolic compounds, 24 flavonoids, and 34 terpenoids) have been isolated and characterized in the genus mainly as gouaniasides I-IX, gouanogenins, and gouanic acids. Most Gouania species remain unexplored for their potential bioactivities. The identification of more than 54% as novel compounds from just seven Gouania species highlights the genus as a promising source for discovering new therapeutic agents to combat the growing challenge of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Conducting extensive phytochemical and pharmacological analyses across a broader array of Gouania species could unveil a more comprehensive profile of bioactive compounds, and pave way for innovative treatments against a diverse range of pathogens and diseases.

Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) DC, “Vidarikand” is a medicinal liana generally known as Indian Kudzu belongs to the family Fabaceae. This plant's tuber is widely used in ethnomedicine as well as in traditional systems of medicine, particularly in Ayurveda. This is an ironic source of bioactive constituents with many pharmacological properties such as restorative tonic, antiageing, spermatogenic, immune booster, demulcent, galactagogue, purgative, cholagogue, refrigerant, emollient, laxative, aphrodisiac, diuretic, emetic, cardiotonic, and expectorant. The tuber is a rich source of different classes of phytoconstituents including alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, and anthocyanidins. There are many reports available on the improvement of the production of isoflavonoids and their mechanism of action from P. tuberosa but still needs research and innovation to protect this medicinally important plant as well as enhancement of important phytochemicals under in vivo and in vitro conditions. In this review, distribution of plant, biology, phytochemical constituents, biotechnological approaches to conserve and enhance the active principle, pharmacological properties, and therapeutic uses are presented with discussion on existing cultivation practises on P. tuberosa. Strategies to meet our domestic and commercial demands by conservation planning of this valuable plant species.

Prunus mume is one of the most ancient medicinal herbs and health foods commonly used in Asian countries. It is widely used as a constituent of many medicinal preparations and as a food ingredient for its beneficial health effects. In this review, we retrieved reports from PubMed, embase, Scopus, and SciFinder databases, to collect extensive scientific evidence on the phytochemical constituents, pharmacological properties, and clinical applications of Prunus mume. The literature review revealed that approximately 192 compounds have been isolated from different parts of the plant, and their molecular structures have been identified. The pharmacological properties of the plant, including anti-diabetic, liver-protective, antitumor, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as their underlying mechanisms, have been clarified by in vitro and in vivo studies. Clinical studies, although very limited, have been highlighted in this review to provide a reference for further exploration on therapeutic applications of the plant.

Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) is a traditional medicinal herb with a rich history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This review aims to provide an updated overview of the phytochemical constituents and pharmacological attributes of Chinese Skullcap, shedding light on its potential therapeutic applications. A comprehensive search of scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, was conducted to gather relevant literature published up to September 2023. Keywords such as "Scutellaria baicalensis," "phytochemicals," and "pharmacological properties" were used to identify pertinent studies. Chinese Skullcap was found to contain a diverse array of phytochemical constituents, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids, with baicalin and baicalein being the most prominent bioactive compounds. These compounds have demonstrated a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. Additionally, Chinese Skullcap has been investigated for its potential in treating various diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions. Chinese Skullcap represents a compelling avenue for future therapeutic development, emphasizing the ongoing need for scientific exploration and clinical investigation.

Curcuma caesia Roxb. commonly known as ‘black turmeric’ is an erect rhizomatous herb characterized by bluish‑black rhizomes and leaves with a deep red-violet midrib. It is a native of northeast and central India and also found in Java and Myanmar. The plant is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several metabolic disorders, leukoderma, leprosy, rheumatic complaints, bronchial disorders, menstrual disorders, gastrointestinal problems, neurological disorders, cancer and diabetes. The rhizomes contain 1.3-7.14% anthocyanins which determine its bluish black hue. 1,8-cineole, camphor, ar-turmerone, linalool, ocimene, ar-curcumene, zingiberol, curzerenone and tropolone were reported as the major components of rhizome oil from different geographical locations. The leaf oil is dominated by 1,8-cineole, camphor and borneol. Furanodienone and curzerenone were identified as the marker compounds for determining the quality of rhizomes. The present review is an update of its phytochemical constituents and pharmacological properties.