Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng.: Traditional and Commercial Uses and Phytochemical and Pharmacological Significance in the African and Indian Subcontinent

Abstract

Lippia javanica occurs naturally in central, eastern, and southern Africa and has also been recorded in the tropical Indian subcontinent. The potential of L. javanica as herbal or recreational tea and herbal medicine and its associated phytochemistry and biological properties are reviewed. The extensive literature survey revealed that L. javanica is used as herbal tea and has ethnomedicinal applications such as in colds, cough, fever, malaria, wounds, diarrhoea, chest pains, bronchitis, and asthma. Multiple classes of phytochemicals including volatile and nonvolatile secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, amino acids, flavonoids, iridoids, and triterpenes as well as several minerals have been identified from L. javanica. Scientific studies on L. javanica indicate that it has a wide range of pharmacological activities which include anticancer, antiamoebic, antidiabetic, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, and pesticidal effects. Although many of the traditional uses of L. javanica have been validated by phytochemical and pharmacological studies, there are still some gaps where current knowledge could be improved. Lippia javanica is popular as both herbal and recreational tea, but there is need for more precise studies to evaluate the safety and clinical value of its main active crude and pure compounds and to clarify their mechanisms of action.

Comparative evaluation of essential oils from Lippia javanica L leaf obtained by two methods and their effect on Artemia salina L

“…(Verbenaceae), commonly known as lemon bush is indigenous to southern and tropical Africa [1]. Lippia javanica leaves and other aerial parts have a strong aromatic smell, the lemon-like fragrance is often given off when these plant parts are crushed [1].…”

“…(Verbenaceae), commonly known as lemon bush is indigenous to southern and tropical Africa [1]. Lippia javanica leaves and other aerial parts have a strong aromatic smell, the lemon-like fragrance is often given off when these plant parts are crushed [1]. Several authors have acknowledged its uses as an insect repellant, food preservative and in the treatment of a cough, fever, wounds, diarrhoea, chest pains and asthma [1,[2][3][4].…”

“…Lippia javanica leaves and other aerial parts have a strong aromatic smell, the lemon-like fragrance is often given off when these plant parts are crushed [1]. Several authors have acknowledged its uses as an insect repellant, food preservative and in the treatment of a cough, fever, wounds, diarrhoea, chest pains and asthma [1,[2][3][4]. Several authors [1,3,[5][6][7] have reported the presence of some essential oil constituents such as (Z)-β-ocimene, ρ-cymene, linalool, carvone, β-cubebene, tagetenone in the leaves of L. javanica.…”

“…Several authors have acknowledged its uses as an insect repellant, food preservative and in the treatment of a cough, fever, wounds, diarrhoea, chest pains and asthma [1,[2][3][4]. Several authors [1,3,[5][6][7] have reported the presence of some essential oil constituents such as (Z)-β-ocimene, ρ-cymene, linalool, carvone, β-cubebene, tagetenone in the leaves of L. javanica. The presence of such constituents in the plant seems to ascribe aromatic fragrance to it [1,8].…”

“…Several authors [1,3,[5][6][7] have reported the presence of some essential oil constituents such as (Z)-β-ocimene, ρ-cymene, linalool, carvone, β-cubebene, tagetenone in the leaves of L. javanica. The presence of such constituents in the plant seems to ascribe aromatic fragrance to it [1,8]. Various works on essential oils have demonstrated that the presence of constituents in essential oils varies from one geographical zone to another and essential oil composition is also affected by time of harvest of the plant [3,[7][8][9].…”