Traditional Medicinal Uses, Phytochemicals, and Pharmacological Activities of Genus Rhamnus: A review

Abstract

The genus Rhamnus belongs to the Rhamnaceae family, which contains approximately 137 species, traditionally used as folk medicine in East Asia, North and South America, and subtropical regions of Africa. The genus is used traditionally to treat diseases such as cancer, wound, jaundice, hepatitis, gonorrhea, laxative, hypertension, malaria, stomach ache, snake bite and diarrhea. Anthraquinones and flavonoids are the most cited compounds from the genus of which polyphenols were abundant with tremendous antioxidant, wound healing and antiinflammatory activities. Pharmacological activity evaluation of the extracts and isolated compounds revealed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimalarial, antibacterial, anti-mutagenic, anti-genotoxic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, and antiproliferative activity. The genus afforded drug leads such as 6-methoxysorigenin (12) and prinoidin ( 23) with anti-tyrosinase and cytotoxicity, respectively, as well as antioxidant drug leads such as Kaempferol-3-O-β-rhamninoside (31) rhamnetin-3-O-β-isorhamninoside (37) and isotorachrysone (55). The present review endeavors to provide a comprehensive and up to date compilation of documented traditional medicinal uses, phytochemicals and pharmacological activities of the genus and provided valuable information in support of its uses as an alternative medicine for future healthcare practice.

An Evaluation of the Anti-QS Activity and Virulence Factors Production Potential of Rhamnus cathartica L. against Some Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria

“…Flavonoids, secondary metabolites, are widely available in the plant kingdom, both in free form and the form of glycosides, with a wide range of pharmacological [38] Derivatives of various flavonoids from the genus Rhamnus have been reported. Members of this genus have had a wide range of applications in modern medicine from ancient times to the present [39] In addition, the plants of the genus Rhamnus are known for antimicrobial, antirheumatic, hypoglycemic, anthelmintic, antipyretic, antiepileptic, and antidiabetic, in the treatment of vertigo, headache, eye diseases, and elimination of intestinal worms [19] . The main strategy to avoid or reduce QS-regulated bacterial virulence is to block the receptor by structural analogs of the QS signaling molecule.…”