Find in Library

<i>Elaeodendron</i> is a genus of tiny trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs consisting of about 23 species. It is used in traditional medicine and has a wide range of pharmacological activities. From the plants in this genus, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, and cardenolides have been isolated. <i>Elaeodendron</i> species have been the subject of numerous <i>in vitro</i> investigations; however, not many vivo studies are available. Preclinical investigations have also revealed antiviral, anti-HIV, anticancer, antiproliferative, antioxidant, antifungal, anti-inflammation, cytotoxic, anti-plasmodial, anti-arthritic, antibacterial, and anti-diabetic activities. Bioactive substances found in <i>Elaedendron</i> that function in a variety of ways are related to these biological processes. Several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, etc., were searched using keywords such as “<i>Elaeodendron</i>”, “chemical constituents”, “anti-cancer”, “anti-viral”, “pharmacology”, etc., to perform a comprehensive review of the current literature. In this sense, this review intends to provide the most recent developments in the ethnomedical use of <i>Elaeodendron</i> species, and their therapeutic benefits and bioactive compounds. Many species of this genus are reported to be toxic. To provide stronger scientific support for their conventional usage, more <i>in vivo</i> and clinical research for mechanism-based pharmacological evaluation as well as toxicological studies should be carried out in the future.