Secondary metabolites of the genus Crotalaria (Rattlepods) and their medicinal importance – A review

Abstract

This review describes the genus Crotalaria focusing on its secondary metabolites and their medicinal applications. The genus Crotalaria of Fabaceae or Leguminosae family have about 600 species which are distributed in tropic and sub-tropic regions of the world. They are medicinally important due to production of various compounds. Traditional early medicines and drug discovery were based on natural products. Organisms produce some chemical compounds by their metabolic pathways that are not necessary for their growth and development and are known as secondary metabolites. This diverse group of compounds is synthesized by algae, plants, animals and fungi. These metabolites consist of variety of compounds such as phenols, coumarins, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids and fatty acids. Secondary metabolites obtained from crotalaria exhibit anticancer, anti-rheumatoid arthritis, anti-allergic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiaging and wound healing activities along with many other medicinal applications.