Chromolaena odorata: A neglected weed with a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities

Abstract

The study of wound‑healing plants has acquired an interdisciplinary nature with a systematic investigational approach. Several biochemicals are involved in the healing process of the body, including antioxidants and cytokines. Although several pharmaceutical preparations and formulations are available for wound care and management, it remains necessary to search for efficacious treatments, as certain current formulations cause adverse effects or lack efficacy. Phytochemicals or biomarkers from numerous plants suggest they have positive effects on different stages of the wound healing process via various mechanisms. Several herbal medicines have displayed marked activity in the management of wounds and various natural compounds have verified in vivo wound healing potential, and can, therefore, be considered as potential drugs of natural origin. Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King and H. Robinson is considered a tropical weed. However, it exhibits anti‑inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and numerous other relevant medicinal properties on an appreciable scale, and is known in some parts of the world as a traditional medicine used to treat various ailments. To understand its specific role as nature's gift for healing wounds and its contribution to affordable healthcare, this plant must be scientifically assessed based on the available literature. This review aims to summarize the role of C. odorata and its biomarkers in the wound healing activities of biological systems, which are crucial to its potential future drug design, development and application for the treatment of wounds.

Evaluation of Phytochemical Constituents and Antibacterial Activity of Chromolaena Odorata L. Leaf Extract against Selected Multidrug Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Wounds

“…The efficiency of extraction procedure depends on the accessibility of the constituent to the solvent [3]. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts of C. odorata showed antibacterial effect on both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria tested which may suggest that its bioactive component possess broad spectrum antibacterial activity [33]. At 100 mg/ml C. odorata methanolic and ethanolic extracts exhibited antimicrobial potential with better activity observed with typed bacterial isolates than with the clinical.…”

Efficacy of Chromolaena odorata leaf extracts for the healing of rat excision wounds

“…Our results suggest that the inclusion of antipathogenic microbial extracts rich in antioxidants or fractions of C. odorata as a potential healing agent would also benefit human health. The data obtained in this study will be useful for future research aimed at further identifying the specific bioactive compounds other than scutellarein tetramethyl ether and stigmasterol (Pandith et al 2013;Vijayaraghavan et al 2017) that are responsible for the healing efficacy of C. odorata. Our results are in line with earlier reports (Grinell 1992) and we are in strong agreement with previously proposed signalling mechanisms of C. odorata in wound healing.…”

Identification of Gly/NMDAR Antagonist from Chromolaena odorata’s Derived Phytoconstituents using Induced Fit Docking Approach

“…Plants are made up of different chemical compounds known as phytochemicals, which confers different pharmacological properties on them. C. odorata has been reported to be made up of phytoconstituent such as the alkaloids, flavanols, polyphenol [9], some of which maybe of importance in inhibiting the Gly/NMDA binding site. Therefore, this study was designed to identify potential lead antagonist of Gly/NMDA from Chromolaena odorata phytoconstituent by induced fit docking.…”