Affiliation:
1. Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa
Abstract
Lippia javanicaoccurs naturally in central, eastern, and southern Africa and has also been recorded in the tropical Indian subcontinent. The potential ofL. javanicaas herbal or recreational tea and herbal medicine and its associated phytochemistry and biological properties are reviewed. The extensive literature survey revealed thatL. javanicais used as herbal tea and has ethnomedicinal applications such as in colds, cough, fever, malaria, wounds, diarrhoea, chest pains, bronchitis, and asthma. Multiple classes of phytochemicals including volatile and nonvolatile secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, amino acids, flavonoids, iridoids, and triterpenes as well as several minerals have been identified fromL. javanica. Scientific studies onL. javanicaindicate that it has a wide range of pharmacological activities which include anticancer, antiamoebic, antidiabetic, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, and pesticidal effects. Although many of the traditional uses ofL. javanicahave been validated by phytochemical and pharmacological studies, there are still some gaps where current knowledge could be improved.Lippia javanicais popular as both herbal and recreational tea, but there is need for more precise studies to evaluate the safety and clinical value of its main active crude and pure compounds and to clarify their mechanisms of action.
Funder
National Research Foundation
Subject
Complementary and alternative medicine
Cited by
43 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献