Abstract
Ehretia laevis Roxb. (Boraginaceae) has been extensively used as a traditional remedy for the treatment of a diverse range of ailments related to the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract, the reproductive system, and against several infections. This review critically assesses and documents, for the first time, the fragmented information on E. laevis, including its botanical description, folklore uses, bioactive phyto metabolites and pharmacological activities. The goal is to explore this plant therapeutically. Ethnomedicinal surveys reveal that E. laevis has been used by tribal communities in Asian countries for the treatment of various disorders. Quantitative and qualitative phytochemical investigations of E. laevis showed the presence of important phytoconstituents such as pentacyclic triterpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, fatty acids, steroids, alkaloids, aliphatic alcohols, hydrocarbons, amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Fresh plant parts, crude extracts, fractions and isolated compounds have been reported to exhibit broad spectrum of therapeutic activities viz., antioxidant, antiarthritic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antidiarrheal, antidysenteric, wound healing and anti-infective activities. E. laevis is shown to be an excellent potential source of drugs for the mitigation of jaundice, asthma, dysentery, ulcers, diarrhea, ringworm, eczema, diabetes, fissure, syphilis, cuts and wounds, inflammation, liver problems, venereal and infectious disorders. Although few investigations authenticated its traditional uses but employed uncharacterized crude extracts of the plant, the major concerns raised are reproducibility of therapeutic efficacy and safety of plant material. The outcomes of limited pharmacological screening and reported bioactive compounds of E. laevis suggest that there is an urgent need for in-depth pharmacological investigations of the plant.
Highlights
Ehretia laevis is a rapidly growing medium sized tree of the Boraginaceae
The plant has been documented in the traditional system of medicine (e.g., Ayurveda and Siddha). This is due to its extensive uses to treat respiratory system diseases, gastrointestinal tract infections, endocrine system diseases, microbial infections [5]
All pertinent information about the botanical description, conventional uses, phytomolecules and pharmacological activities of E. laevis were collected from available literature
Summary
Ehretia laevis is a rapidly growing medium sized tree of the Boraginaceae. The genus Ehretia contains more than 150 species [1]. E. laevis is the most popular member of its genus and is commonly known by more than 120 names in diverse languages (see Supplementary Materials Table S1). The plant has been documented in the traditional system of medicine (e.g., Ayurveda and Siddha). This is due to its extensive uses to treat respiratory system diseases (e.g., asthma and cough), gastrointestinal tract infections (e.g., jaundice, diarrhea, ulcers, dysentery, liver diseases), endocrine system diseases (e.g., diabetes mellitus), microbial infections (e.g., diphtheria, scabies, ringworm, gonorrhea, syphilis and venereal diseases) [5]. Some pharmacological screening studies have been performed to authenticate its traditional claims
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
