Modulation of inflammatory pathways, medicinal uses and toxicities of Uvaria species: potential role in the prevention and treatment of inflammation

AbstractThe therapeutic efficacy of the contemporary anti-inflammatory drugs are well established; however, prolonged use of such can often lead to serious and life-threatening side effects. Natural product-based anti-inflammatory compounds with superior efficacy and minimum toxicity can serve as possible therapeutic alternatives in this scenario. GenusUvaria is a part of Annonaceae family, while the majority of its species are widely distributed in tropical rain forest regions of South East Asia.Uvaria species have been used extensively used as traditional medicine for treating all sorts of inflammatory diseases including catarrhal inflammation, rheumatism, acute allergic reactions, hemorrhoids, inflammatory liver disease and inflamed joints. Phytochemical analysis ofUvaria species has revealed flavones, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, polyoxygenated cyclohexene and phenolic compounds as major phyto-constituents. This review is an attempt to highlight the anti-inflammatory activity ofUvaria species by conducting a critical appraisal of the published literature. The ethnopharmacological relevance ofUvaria species in the light of toxicological studies is also discussed herein. An extensive and relevant literature on anti-inflammatory activity ofUvaria species was collected from available books, journals and electronic databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Proquest and Ovid. Extracts and isolates ofUvaria species exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity thro...
Source: Inflammopharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research