Duranta Erecta Linn: Review On Its Chemistry, Morphology, Ethno Medical Uses, Phytochemistry And Pharmacological Activities

Abstract

Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years and a remarkable number of modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources. India has rich history of using many plants for medicinal purposes. Medicinal plants are playing very active role in traditional medicines for the treatment of various ailments. However a key obstacle, which has hindered the promotion in use of alternative medicines in the developed countries, is no evidence of documentation and absence of stringent quality control measures. There is a need for the record of all the research work carried out on traditional medicines in the form of documentation. As only little studies are done on this plant, the purpose of current review is to make accessible up-to-date information on morphology, therapeutic uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities on diverse parts of Duranta erecta Linn (Syn. Duranta repens, D. erecta). This review was assembled using technical literature from electronic search engine such as Springer link, Bio Med Central, Pub Med, Scopus, Science Direct, Scielo, Medline and Science domain. Supplementary texts were obtained from books, book chapters, dissertations, websites and other scientific publications. D. erecta (Verbenaceae) is commonly known as golden dewdrop, pigeon berry and sky flower is a morphologically variable and polymorphic perennial flowering shrub originally native to Central and South America Active chemical ingredients of the plant include caryoptoside, duraterectoside A, durantoside I, durantoside III, lamiide and two lignans namely (+) 5' methoxy isolariciresinol and (-) 5' methoxy isolariciresinol from methanolic extract of D. erecta. Furthermore, the presences of phyto-molecules such as glycosides, saponins and tannins in D. erecta plant extracts can be used to reduce metal ions to nanoparticles in a single-step green synthesis process. D. erecta is used medicinally for a wide variety of ailments including diuretics, antidote to treat itches, infertility, pneumonia, malaria, intestinal worms, abscesses and neuralgic disorder. It exhibits antioxidant, antiparasitic, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities against human pathogens. The present paper enumerates the pharmacognostic, morphological and ethnobotanical, pharmacological importance of the D. erecta, which may help the researchers to set their minds for approaching the utility, efficacy and potency of the plant.