Phytochemistry and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Muntingia calabura L. as a Medicinal Plant: A Review

Abstract

Inflammation is a normal protective response to tissue injury caused by physical trauma, damaging chemical or microbiological agents. Muntingia calabura L. contains flavonoid compounds that have activities such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. This article aims to present the knowledge of the phytochemicals and anti-inflammatory activity of Muntingia calabura L. This review collects various articles related to the phytochemicals and in vitro or in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Muntingia calabura L. An article search was conducted on electronic databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar which were published from 2013 to 2023. The keywords “Phytochemistry”, “Phytochemical”, “Anti-inflammatory” and “Muntingia calabura L.”. A total of 19 articles for phytochemicals from Muntingia calabura L. and 12 articles provide anti-inflammatory activity Muntingia calabura L. Muntingia calabura L. inhibits the formation of edema, inhibiting the formation of granulomatous tissue, hypotonicity lysis, protein denaturation, lysosomal enzymes and stabilizing lysosomal membranes. This activity exists because of the phytochemical compounds contained in it Muntingia calabura L. is spread in leaves, stems, fruit, and stem bark such as tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, saponins, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, steroids.