Grewia (Malvaceae sensu lato): ethnomedicinal uses and future potential

Abstract

Knowledge of traditional uses of plants or plant based products among the folks or various communities around the world had been the primary key for many scientific exploration of drug discovery. The plants of pharmaceutical or medicinal importance are under pressure because of demand and over exploitation. The current review presents the potential of Grewia, a genera of family Malvaceae sensu lato as an alternative source for the commercialization of Grewia species based plant products for various purpose. Traditionally Grewia species were used for the treatment of many disease such as Malaria, Tuberculosis, Syphilis, Fever etc. Grewia species exhibited low cytotoxic properties. Ethnomedicinally, two species of Grewia i.e. G. asiatica and G. mollis had been used widely in African and Asian countries and exhibits future potential for commercialization.

Phytochemical composition, pharmacological properties, and therapeutic activities of genus: Grewia

“…Numerous stamens present on the raised torus, syncarpous in nature but staminodes are absent. The ovary is placed above the androphore, axile placentation, and fruits are drupe [10] .…”

“…There are as many as 325 accepted Grewia species distributed worldwide and among them, 40 species are found in India [10,12] . As per the report of the Indian Biodiversity Portal, these species are distributed all over the landscape and forests of India.…”

“…In some countries G. tenax, G. damine and G. villosa are used as fodder for animals and fruits are consumed by people. Leaves of G. villosa are used in beer brewing in Kenya [10] .…”

The essential oils of Grewia Lasiocarpa E. Mey. Ex Harv.: chemical composition, in vitro biological activity and cytotoxic effect on Hela cells

“…(G. subinaequalis DC) contains β-amyrin, lupeol and betulin, while the essential oil of the flower contains glycosides pelargonidin, cyanidin, and delphinine (Oliver-Bever 1986), 1,2-epoxy [5.6%], 1-(2, cyano2-ethyl butyl)3-isopropyl urea [5.9%] and hexadecanoic acid [6.3%] (Langford et al 2010). The essential oil present in the flower of G. bicolor (syn G. salicifolia) constitutes a sedative, farnesol, which is also peculiar to other plants in the Tiliaceae family to which Grewia was previously taxonomically grouped (Burt 2004, Kubmarawa et al 2007, Pathak 2017. Essential oils are good sources of bioactive compounds, and they possess several biological activities (Shagal et al 2012), e.g.…”