Ehretia laevis Roxb: Reviewing the Phytochemical and Pharmacotherapeutic Potentials

Abstract

Ehretia laevis Roxb. (Boraginaceae) has been widely utilized as a traditional medicine for a variety of afflictions related to the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, infections, and reproductive system. The knowledge on E. laevis including its botanical description, folkloric usage, bioactive phytometabolites, and pharmacological activity, is critically evaluated and documented in this study. Studies on E. laevis' phytochemical composition, both quantitative and qualitative, revealed the existence of significant phytoconstituents such as phenolic acids, pentacyclic triterpenoids, fatty acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, hydrocarbons, aliphatic alcohols, carbohydrates, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. It has been observed that isolated chemicals, crude extracts, fractions, and fresh plant parts demonstrate a wide range of medicinal effects viz., antiarthritic, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antiulcer, wound healing, antidysenteric, and antiinfective activities. It has been demonstrated that E. laevis is a great potential source of medications for the prevention of jaundice, ulcers, dysentery, ringworm, diarrhea, diabetes, eczema, syphilis, fissure, inflammation, cuts and wounds, venereal, liver problems, asthma, and infectious disorders. A thorough pharmacological examination of the plant is urgently required, according to the results of limited pharmacological screening and the known bioactive components of E. laevis.