Proven Activities of Entada phaseoloides (L.) Merr.

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been identified and used throughout human history. Plants have the ability to synthesize a wide variety of chemical compounds that are used to perform important biological functions. Chemical compounds in plants mediate their effect: on the human body through processes identical to those already well understood for the chemical compounds in conventional drugs; thus herbal medicines do not differ greatly from conventional drugs in terms of how they work. Entada phaseoloides, a well-known liana widely used therapeutically and has become increasingly popular as an important medicinal plant. Entada phaseoloides and its bioactive compounds possess various pharmacological properties. The plant has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antiarthritis, antidiabetic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial and molluscidal agent. The present review summarizes current knowledge on reported medicinal properties, pharmacological actions. Despite this, further investigations are required to explore Entada phaseoloides and to evaluate the different biological activities of either its extracts or the isolated compounds with probable modes of action.