Ethnopharmacological Use and Biological Activities of Tragia involucrata L.

Abstract

Plants have been utilized as medicines to treat various ailments since ancient times. Formulations made by plant materials have been used in traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine and remain widespread in both developing and developed countries. In developing countries, traditional medicines are widely practiced due to its accessibility and affordability, while in developed countries, complementary and alternative medicine are widely popular due to the adverse effects of chemical drugs. Tragia involucrata Linn. (family: Euphorbiaceae) is a highly used medicinal plant used in both Sri Lankan and Indian traditional medical systems. Since this plant is a weed, it is being extensively destroyed due to the lack of knowledge regarding the medicinal value of this plant. Hence, the objective of this study was to collect data on the medicinal value of this plant by correlating its scientifically validated biological activities with its ethnopharmacological uses. An attempt was made to gather as much information available regarding the ethnopharmacological uses and scientifically validated biological activities of Tragia involucrata through authentic traditional texts, scientific journals, and other authentic texts regarding medicinal plants. Thus, the review provides an insight to the capability of Tragia involucrata to be used as a monoherbal formulation for diseases pertaining to multiple systems of the body. With all the scientifically validated biological activities and the ethnopharmacological uses, Tragia involucrata may qualify as a potent candidate to be developed into a phytomedicine to be utilized as both a preventive and as a therapeutic agent.

Flavonoid Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Tragia volubilis L. Methanolic Extract

“…Terpenoids showed a scant presence; flavonoids and carbohydrates exhibited a moderate presence; and alkaloids and tannins showed a strong presence. These compound families are similar to those found in other Tragia species, such as Tragia involucrata L. [46,47], Tragia pungens (Forssk.) Müll.…”

Analytical Method Development, Validation, and Estimation of Lupeol, Quercetin, Vasicine in Polyherbal Formulations and Selected Plant Species by using UFLC-MS

“…Tragia involucrata Linn. is a medicinal plant used traditionally in Sri Lankan medicine and the Indian system of medicine 25 in Indian stinging nettle roots, such as iridin, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, tricin 7-O-hexosyl-O-hexoside, and Ar-turmerone, were identified 27,28 . Isolated and characterized colourless compounds from the plants of T. involucrata roots are shellsol, 2, 4-dimethyl hexane, 2-methylamine, 2, 6-dimethyl heptane, and vinyl hexyl ether 29 .…”

Tragia L. Genus: Ethnopharmacological Use, Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activity

“…Of the more than 150 species of the genus, few appear in the scientific literature, and even fewer are mentioned from an ethnopharmacological perspective. Notwithstanding, Tragia species are a part of traditional medicinal systems of East Africa and the Indian subcontinent, such as Siddha and Ayurveda [19], with documented uses of T. involucrata appearing as early as the 1st century CE [20] and with only a handful of mentions of Tragia species in the New World pharmacopoeia, concerning mostly topical applications. There is concern over an excessive use of Tragia species, e.g., Tragia bicolor, which poses a conservation hazard [21,22].…”