Abstract

ETHNOMEDICINAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL, AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROFILE OF MICROCOS PANICULATA L.

Priyanka K. More* and Sachin K. Chandavarkar

Abstract

Microcos paniculata L., a medicinal plant belonging to the Tiliaceae family, has long been used in traditional medicine across Asia to manage ailments such as diarrhea, fever, wounds, and various gastrointestinal and inflammatory disorders. This review presents an overview of the plant's phytochemical profile and pharmacological potential, with a particular emphasis on its rich flavonoid content and multifaceted bioactivity. A total of 70 active constituents—including flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, organic acids, and steroids—have been identified from its leaves, fruits, barks, and roots. Scientific investigations highlight its significant biological activities, including pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, membrane-protective, and thrombolytic effects. These therapeutic actions have been confirmed through various experimental models such as the formalin-induced paw licking test, hot plate and tail immersion methods, gastrointestinal motility studies, antidiarrheal evaluations, and brine shrimp lethality assays. Due to its broad pharmacological scope and chemical complexity, M. paniculata is a strong candidate for the development of herbal drugs and functional food products. However, additional research is necessary to clarify its mechanisms of action, safety parameters, and clinical applicability.

Keywords: Microcos paniculata, bioactive compounds, flavonoids, analgesic activity, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial potential, cytotoxicity, thrombolysis, ethnomedicine.