Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and biotechnological advances of family Apocynaceae: A review

Abstract

The family Apocynaceae is one of the largest and important families in angiosperm. Several members of this family have medicinal properties and have been in the treatment of various ailments. Most of them are consumed as food by tribal people whereas a few plants are used as source of poison. Members of family Apocynaceae are rich in alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, glycosides, simple phenols, lactones, and hydrocarbons. Other compounds such as sterols, lignans, sugars, lignans, and lactones have been isolated and systematically studied. Few studies have reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of crude extracts as well as single compound(s) isolated from various members of the family Apocynaceae. Holarrhena antidysenterica, Rauvolfia serpentina, Carissa carandas, and Tabernaemontana divaricata are the extensively studied plants in this family. The present review provides a detailed outlook on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and biological activities of selected members of this family. Moreover, it also covers the biotechnological advances used for large-scale production of bioactive compounds of therapeutic interest along with plant tissue culture-based approaches for conservation of this medicinally valuable family.

A Mini-Review on the Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of Selected Apocynaceae Plants

“…This family is known as one of the largest and useful families in angiosperm (6). Because of the huge medicinal values of this family, many of them have been used in the treatment of various ailments (11). They are also consumed by many tribes as food and used as poisons (1) Triterpenoids, lupeol, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, α-amyrin and β-amyrin were largely distributed in the leaves, roots, and fruits of the Carissa genus (15).…”

“…They are also consumed by many tribes as food and used as poisons (1) Triterpenoids, lupeol, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, α-amyrin and β-amyrin were largely distributed in the leaves, roots, and fruits of the Carissa genus (15). A novel oleandric acid isolated from Nerium oleander exhibited anti-inflammatory and anticancer potential (4,11).…”

“…divaricata (4,11). Alstonic acids and oleanolic acid were reported from the leaves of Alstonia scholaris.…”

“…Bioactivities exhibited by phytosterol include anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and antihyperlipidemic activities (11). Wrightia tinctoria and Alstonia scholaris contain various kinds of phytosterols such as stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, and campesterol.…”

A mini-review on the phytochemistry and biological activities of selected Apocynaceae plants

“…This family is known as one of the largest and useful families in angiosperm (6). Because of the huge medicinal values of this family, many of them have been used in the treatment of various ailments (11). They are also consumed by many tribes as food and used as poisons (1).…”