Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Potentials of Premna serratifolia L.: Traditional Medicinal Plant Used by Local People in Kalimantan

Abstract

Millions of people worldwide have been using herbal medicines for thousands of years, due to their great interest in traditional medicines. One of the plants in Indonesia which has medicinal properties but is not widely known by the public and used is Bebuas plant. Bebuas (Premna serratifolia Linn) has been observed growing in West Kalimantan. The people of West Kalimantan used bebuas leaves to reduce cholesterol levels, the young leaves used as a traditional medicine to expel wind in the body quickly, treat intestinal worms, and increase breast milk for nursing mothers, and the decoction of fresh leaves is used for colds and fever medicine. Several studies report bebuas (Premna serratifolia L.) had many pharmacological activities. Bebuas contains flavonoids, saponins, tannins and triterpenoids/steroids that have a role in pharmacological activity. The present review aims to summarize the current state of scientific evidence on the pharmacological potentials of P. serratifolia. The subject of literature published from 2012 to 2022 were obtained frominternational research databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO, SCOPUS, and Cochrane, using the keywords Premna serratifolia L., traditional medicine, medicinal plants, and pharmacology. The pharmacological activities which are discussed further in the review including antioxidant, anti-arthritic, anticholesterol, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihelmintic, antidiabetic, and anticancer/cytotoxic. The study suggests that Premna serratifolia L. is a potent source for further development of phytomedicine.

Ethnobotanical Review of Selected Medicinal Plants in Guam for the Treatment of Urinary Tract Ailments and Their Pharmacological Properties

“…Antibacterial [32], Anticancer [33]; Antioxidant, antiarthritic, anticholesterol, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihelmintic, antidiabetic, and anticancer/cytotoxic [31].…”

“…Leaf extracts of this plant have been traditionally used for the treatment of coughs, asthma, colds and flu, ear infections, hemorrhaging, and all types of illness [2], as well as urinary tract ailments [6]. Khairunnisa et al [31] listed several bioactive compounds of P. serratifolia extracts, including flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and triterpenoids/steroids, which exhibit both in vitro and in vivo biological activities, such as antioxidant, antiarthritic, anticholesterol, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihelmintic, antidiabetic, and anticancer/cytotoxic activity. The antibacterial activity of P. serratifolia essential oil against S. aureus and S. typhi showed weak inhibition wherein the diameter of the clear zone was 4.6 mm for S. aureus and 4.7 mm for S. typhi, at a concentration of 100% [32].…”