Nutritive Importance and Therapeutics Uses of Three Different Varieties (Murraya koenigii, Micromelum minutum, and Clausena indica) of Curry Leaves: An Updated Review

Abstract

Murraya koenigii (M. koenigii), Micromelum minutum (M. minutum), and Clausena indica (C. indica) are three varieties of curry leaves in the family Rutaceae. They have been widely used in Ayurvedic medicine worldwide in the treatment and prevention of various diseases. Earlier findings provide strong evidence to support the three curry leaf species’ potent pharmaceutical and biological effects, including antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. Various parts of these plants, such as leaves, seeds, flowers, and fruit, contain constituents responsible for the modulation of numerous biological processes. Leading constituents of curry leaves play a crucial role in diabetic and anticancer management by regulating various molecular pathways, including Bcl-2, Bax, NF-κB, and TNFα, according to in vitro and in vivo models established. Therefore, this review summarizes the current knowledge on research achievements made in terms of phytoconstituents, their structures, biological activities, and pharmacological actions with clinical studies of curry leaves up to date. The review also emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive research studies on the pharmacological actions and the mechanisms of selected phytochemicals of M. koenigii, M. minutum, and C. indica to validate their efficacy as potent herbal remedies for many ailments.

Multi-Target Approach of Murraya koenigii Leaves in Treating Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…In particular, M. koenigii was reported as a rich source of more than fifty carbazole-type alkaloids with potent pharmacological activities [50]. Cytotoxic activity was reported for the major alkaloids koenimbine, murrayafoline, mahanine, mahanimbine, isomahanine, murrayazoline, koenoline, mahanimboline, and mukoline [52,54]. Mahanimbinine, murrayacinine, mahanimboline, isomahanine, and mahanimbine possessed diverse pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antihyperlipidemic activities [52].…”

“…Mahanimbinine, murrayacinine, mahanimboline, isomahanine, and mahanimbine possessed diverse pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antihyperlipidemic activities [52]. Other reported antioxidant carbazole alkaloids in M. koenigii included mukoeic acid, murrayanine, mukonicine, koenigine, koenine, 9formyl-3-methylcarbazole, murrayanol, and O-methylmurrayamine A, while additional antimicrobial alkaloids were girinimbine, murrayanine, mahanine, murrayacine, mukoline, and pyrafolione D [52,54]. Among the non-alkaloidal compounds identified in M. koenigii, the coumarins and flavonoids of catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, myricetin, naringin, and rutin were identified as antioxidant and anticancer compounds.…”

“…Among the non-alkaloidal compounds identified in M. koenigii, the coumarins and flavonoids of catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, myricetin, naringin, and rutin were identified as antioxidant and anticancer compounds. Additionally, the polyphenolic compounds ferulic acid, gallic acid, and vanillic acid were reported to increase the antioxidant potential of M. koenigii [54].…”

“…Monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids were reported in the leaf essential oils with therapeutic activities against various targets. Potential antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds from the essential oils of M. koenigii were alloocimene, α-terpinene, (E)-β-ocimene, elemol, linalool, geranyl acetate, and myrcene [54]. M. koenigii leaves collected from Tamilnadu, India, were extracted by hydrodistillation [26].…”

A Review of Anti-hyperglycemic Effects of Curry Leaf Tree (Murraya koenigii)

“…The plant has main constituents such as caryophyllene, terpene, carvomenthone, menthol, menthone, citral, and linalyl acetate, which contribute to the flavor 20 . Leaves, seeds, flowers, and fruit of M. koenigii, contain constituents responsible for a variety of numerous biological processes 21 . A review study mentioned that traditionally M. koenigii leaves are used in Ayurveda medicine to manage diabetes, and mahanimbine is a carbazole alkaloid present in leaves, stem bark, and root of M. koenigii has a beneficial effect in the controlling the diabetes mellitus 22 .…”