Preprint / Version 1

The Genus Alternanthera: Phytochemical and Ethnopharmacological Perspectives

Authors

  • Rajeev Singla Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
  • Shailja Singla iGlobal Research and Publishing Foundation, New Delhi, India
  • Ankit Dubey Institute of Scholars, Bengaluru, India
  • Suresh Kumar Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, India
  • Monika Bansal Akal College of Pharmacy and Technical Education, Mastuana Sahib, Sangrur, India
  • Simranjit Bola Akal College of Pharmacy and Technical Education, Mastuana Sahib, Sangrur, India
  • Deepak Kumar Department of Health and Family Welfare, Civil Hospital, Rampura Phul, India
  • Reecha Madaan Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University Punjab, Rajpura, India
  • Vivek Dhir Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University Punjab, Rajpura, India
  • Bairong Shen Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Keywords:

alternanthera, anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, flavonoids, triterpenoid saponins, natural products (NP)

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The genus Alternanthera (Amaranthaceae) comprises 139 species including 14 species used traditionally for the treatment of various ailments such as hypertension, pain, inflammation, diabetes, cancer, microbial and mental disorders. Aim of the review: To search research gaps through critical assessment of pharmacological activities not performed to validate traditional claims of various species of Alternanthera. This review will aid natural product researchers in identifying Alternanthera species with therapeutic potential for future investigation. Materials and methods: Scattered raw data on ethnopharmacological, morphological, phytochemical, pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical studies of various species of the genus Alternanthera have been compiled utilizing search engines like SciFinder, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Open J-Gate for 100 years up to April 2021. Results: Few species of Alternanthera genus have been exhaustively investigated phytochemically, and about 129 chemical constituents related to different classes such as flavonoids, steroids, saponins, alkaloids, triterpenoids, glycosides, and phenolic compounds have been isolated from 9 species. Anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, CNS depressive, antidiabetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulator effects have been explored in the twelve species of the genus. A toxicity study has been conducted on 3 species and a clinical study on 2 species. Conclusions: The available literature on pharmacological studies of Alternanthera species reveals that few species have been selected based on ethnobotanical surveys for scientific validation of their traditional claims. But most of these studies have been conducted on uncharacterized and non-standardized crude extracts. A roadmap of research needs to be developed for the isolation of new bioactive compounds from Alternanthera species, which can emerge out as clinically potential medicines. Keywords: alternanthera, anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, flavonoids, triterpenoid saponins, natural products (NP)

Author Biography

Rajeev Singla, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

iGlobal Research and Publishing Foundation, New Delhi, India