Preprint / Version 1

Phytochemical and Ethnopharmacological Perspectives of Ehretia laevis

Authors

  • Pooja Sharma Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002, India or [email protected] (P.S.); [email protected] (R.S.)
  • Richa Shri Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002, India or [email protected] (P.S.); [email protected] (R.S.)
  • Fidele Ntie-Kang Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
  • Suresh Kumar Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002, India or [email protected] (P.S.); [email protected] (R.S.)

Keywords:

Ehretia laevis, pharmacological activities, phytochemistry, traditional use

Abstract

Ehretia laevis Roxb. (Boraginaceae) has been extensively used as a traditional remedy for the treatment of a diverse range of ailments related to the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract, the reproductive system, and against several infections. This review critically assesses and documents, for the first time, the fragmented information on E. laevis, including its botanical description, folklore uses, bioactive phyto metabolites and pharmacological activities. The goal is to explore this plant therapeutically. Ethnomedicinal surveys reveal that E. laevis has been used by tribal communities in Asian countries for the treatment of various disorders. Quantitative and qualitative phytochemical investigations of E. laevis showed the presence of important phytoconstituents such as pentacyclic triterpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, fatty acids, steroids, alkaloids, aliphatic alcohols, hydrocarbons, amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Fresh plant parts, crude extracts, fractions and isolated compounds have been reported to exhibit broad spectrum of therapeutic activities viz., antioxidant, antiarthritic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antidiarrheal, antidysenteric, wound healing and anti-infective activities. E. laevis is shown to be an excellent potential source of drugs for the mitigation of jaundice, asthma, dysentery, ulcers, diarrhea, ringworm, eczema, diabetes, fissure, syphilis, cuts and wounds, inflammation, liver problems, venereal and infectious disorders. Although few investigations authenticated its traditional uses but employed uncharacterized crude extracts of the plant, the major concerns raised are reproducibility of therapeutic efficacy and safety of plant material. The outcomes of limited pharmacological screening and reported bioactive compounds of E. laevis suggest that there is an urgent need for in-depth pharmacological investigations of the plant. Keywords: Ehretia laevis, pharmacological activities, phytochemistry, traditional use

Author Biographies

Pooja Sharma, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002, India or [email protected] (P.S.); [email protected] (R.S.)

Sri Sai College of Pharmacy, Manawala, Amritsar 143001, India

Fidele Ntie-Kang, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon

Institute for Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, 06120 Halle, Germany

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