title: Pharmacological and Ethnomedicinal Overview of Heritiera fomes: Future Prospects.
abstract: Mangrove plants are specialized woody plants growing in the swamps of tidal-coastal areas and river deltas of tropical and subtropical parts of the world. They have been utilized for medicinal and other purposes by the coastal people over the years. Heritiera fomes Buch. Ham. (family: Sterculiaceae) commonly known as Sundari (Bengali) is a preeminent mangrove plant occurring in the Sundarbans forest located in the southern part of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal province of India. The plant has applications in traditional folk medicine as evidenced by its extensive use for treating diabetes, hepatic disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, goiter, and skin diseases by the local people and traditional health practitioners. A number of investigations indicated that the plant possesses significant antioxidant, antinociceptive, antihyperglycemic, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. Phytochemical analyses have revealed the presence of important chemical constituents like saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, gums, phytosterols, and reducing sugars. The present study is aimed at compiling information on phytochemical, biological, pharmacological, and ethnobotanical properties of this important medicinal plant, with a view to critically assess the legitimacy of the use of this plant in the aforementioned disorders as well as providing directions for further research.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Imran
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5635-4567
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mahmud
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Khirul
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Sanjib
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1534-7130
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Apurba Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Barman
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Mustafizur
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0715-0696
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anisuzzman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK.
authors.forename: Taufiq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Nahain
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Rownak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jahan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0216-7977
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahmatullah