GENUS LEPIDAGATHIS (ACANTHACEAE): REVIEW OF ITS ETHANOBOTANY, PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL

Abstract

Almost all societies have employed medicinal plants as a source of medicine. Due to their natural origin, low cost, and lack of side effects, traditional medicinal plants have become increasingly popular over the past few decades. The Vedas and the Bible both mention the common usage of herbal medicines and healthcare products. People have used medicinal plants for thousands of years to flavour and preserve food, cure health problems, and prevent disease. Acanthaceae plant species are valued for their cultural and economic significance in horticulture and traditional medicine worldwide due to their wide range of medicinal characteristics. It was discovered that 87% of therapeutic drugs were made from naturally occurring substances taken from plants. In addition to being utilized as food, medicine, or ornamentals, plant species in this family also contain a variety of vital secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, quinones, and flavonoids. The ethnopharmacological drugs of this class are utilised in many South and East Asian countries. According to some studies, Acanthaceae may possess antiviral, antifungal, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, and antiplatelet aggregation properties. The current review identifies some salient traits of a few significant genera in this family and explores how they are used in both traditional and creative ways in modern society. By keeping these factors in mind, the current study will be helpful for future research and clinical trials in the study of some new significant plant species that belong to this significant family.