A review on ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of plant genus Caralluma R. Br.
OBJECTIVE
Caralluma is a xerophytic genus used as traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes, inflammation, leprosy, obesity and rheumatism. Objectives of this review are to establish a relationship between traditional uses and scientific studies by critically evaluating the available fragmented literature on ethnobotany, pharmacology, phytochemistry and toxicology of genus Caralluma.


RESULTS
Ethnomedical uses of Caralluma have been recorded from various countries such as China, India, Iran and Pakistan for six major classes of diseases including diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders. This review indicated the efficacy of genus Caralluma in several in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer activity. These bioactivity might be due to the presence of certain classes of compounds in genus Caralluma including pregnane glycosides, flavonoid glycosides and flavones.


CONCLUSIONS
Traditional uses and scientific evaluation of Caralluma indicates that it is one of the most widely used genus in some parts of the world. Further studies on the structural activity relationship of some of the isolated compound may improve their biological potency as well as scientific exploitation of traditional uses of the genus.
Department of Botany, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan.
Muhammad
M
Adnan
Saleem
S
Jan
Sakina
S
Mussarat
Akash
A
Tariq
Shaheen
S
Begum
Anila
A
Afroz
Zabta Khan
ZK
Shinwari
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D019448:Ethnobotany; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts
Apocynaceae; chemical compounds; conservation; ethnopharmacology; toxicology