Downloads
Download




This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Review
Ethnopharmacological and Medicinal Properties of Allophylus dimorphus Radlk.: An Update
Azazahemad A. Kureshi 1,*, Emran Habibi 2,3, Satyajit D. Sarker 3, and Lutfun Nahar 4,*
1 Analytical Development and Innovation Center, Pharmanza Herbal Pvt. Ltd., Anand 388430, Gujarat, India
2 Medicinal Plants Research Centre, Institute of Herbal Medicines and Metabolic Disorders, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 48157-33971, Iran
3 Centre for Natural Products Discovery (CNPD), School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
4 Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Palacký University and Institute of Experimental Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Šlechtitelů 27, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic
* Correspondence: kureshi.azaz90@gmail.com (A.A.K.); nahar@ueb.cas.cz (L.N.)
Received: 2 February 2025; Revised: 7 March 2025; Accepted: 10 March 2025; Published: 12 March 2025
Abstract: Allophylus dimorphus Radlk., a member of the Sapindaceae family, is a shrub or tree primarily found in the Nicobar Islands, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Despite its potential relevance in traditional medicine, research on the ethnopharmacological and medicinal properties of this species is currently limited. However, a few closely related species, such as Allophylus cobbe and Allophylus serratus, have been studied for their bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the significance of traditional medicine, which remains a vital healthcare source for many communities worldwide. The rapid loss of plant diversity and the potential for discovering novel medicinal compounds highlight the necessity of documenting and investigating A. dimorphus and related species. This update consolidates existing knowledge on the phytochemistry, ethnomedicinal uses, and pharmacological properties of A. dimorphus, providing a foundation for future research and conservation efforts.
Keywords:
Allophylus dimorphus ethnopharmacology medicinal properties phytochemicals pharmacological activity
References
- Sarker, S.D.; Nahar, L. Medicinal natural products: A disease-focused approach. In Annual Reports in Medicinal Chemistry; Academic Press: Cambridge, MA, USA, 2020; pp. 1–44.
- The World Health Organization (WHO). Integrating Traditional Medicine in Health Care. 2023. Available online: https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/feature-stories/detail/integrating-traditional-medicine (accessed on 30 January 2025).
- The World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre. Why Is It needed? 2024. Available online: https://www.who.int/initiatives/who-global-traditional-medicine-centre/about-us (accessed on 30 January 2025).
- Menzel, C.M. Fruits of tropical climates | fruits of the Sapindaceae. Encycl. Food Sci. Nutr. 2003, 2786–2790.
- Azam MN, K.; Ahmed, M.N.; Rahman, M.M.; et al. Ethnomedicines used by the Oraon and Gor tribes of Sylhet district, Bangladesh. AEJSA 2013, 7, 391–402.
- Ankad, G.M.; Upadhya, V.; Pai, S.R.; et al. Erratum to: Total polyphenols, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of leaves and stem bark extracts of Allophylus cobbe (L.) Raeusch. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. India Sec. B Biol. Sci. 2016, 86, 145–149.
- Chavan, R.B.; Gaikwad, D.K. The ethnobotany, phytochemistry and biological properties of Allophylus species used in traditional medicine: A review. World J. Pharm. Pharm. Sci. 2016, 6, 664–682. https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpps201611-8039.
- IUCN. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020. Available online: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/197827067/203233498 (accessed on 27 January 2025).
- Mao, A.A.; Dash, S. S. Flowering Plants of India: An Annotated Checklist (Dicotyledons); Botanical Survey of India: Kolkata, India, 2020; Volume 2.
- Wu, H.M. Flora of China; Science Press: Beijing, China; Missouri Botanical Garden Press: St. Louis, MO, USA, 2007; Volume 12.
- Medicinal Plants of Bangladesh (MPBD). Allophylus dimorphus Radlk. 2024. Available online: https://mpbd.cu.ac.bd/details.php?id=704 (accessed on 19 November 2024)
- Davis, C.C; Choisy, P. Medicinal plants meet modern biodiversity science. Curr. Biol. 2024, 34, R158–R173.
- Kew Royal Botanic Gardens Allophylus dimorphus Radlk. 2024. Available online: https://powo.science.kew.org (accessed on 30 January 2025).
- World Flora Online (WFO). Allophylus dimorphus Radlk. 2024. Available online: http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000526648 (accessed on 30 January 2025).
- Ogwu, M.C.; Izah, S.C.; Joshua, M.T. Ecological and environmental determinants of phytochemical variability in forest trees. Phytochem. Rev. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-025-10066-0.
- Ebi, K.L.; Vanos, J.; Baldwin, J.W.; et al. Extreme weather and climate change: Population health and health system implications. Annu. Rev. Public Health 2021, 42, 293–315.
- Leenhouts, P.W. A conspectus of the genus Allophylus (Sapindaceae). Regnum Veg. 1963, 27, 3
- Rastogi, R.; Mehrotra, B. Compendium of Indian Medicinal Plants; Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India, 1990; Volume 1, pp. 388–389.
- Johns, S.R.; Lamberton, J.A. Isolation of simple acid amides from Allophylus cobbe (Sapindaceae), Hamalium foetidum (Flacourtceae) and from a Aglabia species (Meliaceae). Aus J. Chem. 1969; 22, 1315–1316.
- Asolkar, L.V.; Kakkar, K.K.; Chakre, O.J. Second Supplement to Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants with Active Principles Part-1 (A-K); CSIR: New Delhi, India, 1992.
- Sarker, S.D.; Nahar, L. (Eds.). Natural Products Isolation; Humana Press: Totowa, NJ, USA, 2012.
- Ikenna, C.; Mba, T.C.; Odoh, U.E.; et al. Phytochemical and anti-ulcer properties of Allophylus africanus P Beauv. (Sapindaceae) leaf. Asian J. Res Medical and Pharm. Sci. 2023, 12, 38–45. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajrimps/2023/v12i1208.
- Corlett, R.T. Plant diversity in a changing world: Status, trends, and conservation needs. Plant Divers. 2016, 38, 10–16.
- The Plant Conservation Report (2024). Available online: https://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/plant-conservation-report-en.pdf (Accessed on 27 Jan 2025).