Oenothera biennis (Genus oenothera)-A Ethnobotanical Review

Abstract

The current context of research in the field of pharmacy is experiencing a shift towards natural medicine and to the vegetative product with curative properties. Genus Oenothera includes medicinal plants that are distributed throughout the world and are known since ancient times. Popular indications of different species of this genus include treatment of inflammation, diabetes, microbial infections, ulcer, tumors, kidney and liver problems. The plant of this genus are a botanical source for various pharmaceutically active components like sterols, alkaloids, phenolic acid, flavonoids, triterpenoids, saponins, biflavonols and tocopherols responsible for the diverse range of biological activity. In this review the activities studied anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-proliferative and hypocholesterolemic activities exhibiting a wide range of crude extracts of plants in in-vitro, in-vivo and in-silico studies. Anti-inflammatory activity were done by using in-vivo studies towards the extract lipoxygenase and hyaluronidase aganist the stronger activity of the compound possessing the effect. Anti-bacterial activity was performed by in-vivo and in-vitro studies aganist microorganism using scavenging activity by the microorganism resistant. Anti-oxidant activity was evaluated by using Electron transfer (ET) based assay using DPPH free radical assay method and ABTS radical cation assay method. Anti-proliferative activity illustrated compounds targeting cell lines by MTT assay using in-vitro and in-silico studies. Hypocholesterolemic activity investigated the effect of six dietetic oil in cholesterol-fed rats. This review article provides an insight to the researchers regarding further exploration of unexplored species of this genus so that they can also be used as herbal drugs to cure various ailments.