Abstract
Abstract Traditional medicinal plants are used to treat wide range of diseases from basic ailments to life-threatening diseases that include cancer, diabetes, and heart disorders. In the recent past, there have been beneficial outcomes of combining traditional knowledge with scientific advancements. Many bioactive compounds isolated from medicinal plants have served as drugs benefiting human health and also as lead compounds in the drug discovery and development. This chapter focuses on the phytochemistry, as well as the biological and pharmacological applications of compounds isolated from different species of the genus Uncaria (Rubiaceae). Traditionally, species of Uncaria have been used for the treatment of various ailments such as wounds, ulcers, fevers, headaches, gastrointestinal illness, microbial infections, hypertension, and nervous disorders. The phytochemical studies on species of Uncaria started several decades ago and the literature revealed that the alkaloids are the most prominent bioactive compounds among the species of this genus. Novel methods of isolation, purification, and structural elucidation of bioactive compounds of Uncaria spp. are highlighted and a discussion on structure–activity relationships is presented. Finally, this chapter attempts to critically analyze the literature to provide a deeper understanding of biological importance of the alkaloids of this genus.
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