Abstract

Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) kurz belongs to the family 'Lythraceae' has been utilized in traditional medicine for treating common ailments since ancient periods. It is conventionally employed against numerous diseases, including cold, toothache, blood infection, leprosy, dysentery, wounds, rheumatic pain, fever, urinary disorders, inflammation, antifertility and menstrual problem. The enormous potential and effects are extensively validated through in vitro and in vivo models. The recent updates on the plant Woodfordia fruticosa are absolutely essential to identify the bioactive components responsible for its therapeutic effect. Phytochemical investigations prove the presence of 61 compounds belonging to the class of glycosides, terpenes, flavonoids, tannins, sterols, phenolics and essential oils isolated from the different parts of the plant. Pharmacological studies of the plant showed that it poses a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, gastroprotective and wound healing properties. The pharmacological activities of crude extracts from this plant mostly have been reported. A very limited number of studies have reported the activities of isolated compounds of this plant. Hence, this review will help to explore many distinguished pharmacognostic characteristics of the plant as well as the therapeutic efficacy of the plant against several diseases and will recommend further requirements of additional investigations to explore its possible practical applications.