Botanical description, phytochemistry, traditional uses, and pharmacology of Anthocephalus cadamba: An updated review

Background: Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. is an important medicinal plant of the Rubiaceae family. It is widespread in the tropical and subtropical regions of India and the world. It became popular for the use of folklore in a variety of illnesses, including diabetes Mellitus, diarrhea, fever, inflammation, hemophilia, cough, vomiting, wounds, ulcer, and debility, and also useful for snake bites. Results: The current review focuses on plant descriptions and ethnographic and traditional uses of Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. along with the reported pharmacological activity. The main chemical composition and pharmacological aspects of Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. has been thoroughly studied to reveal the unexplored ethnomedicinal uses of this plant, and researchers working on this plant may be able to gain new facts to continue further research on plants. Pharmacological aspects like Analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory, Antidiabetic, Antidiarrhoeal, Diuretic and laxative, Anti-hepatotoxic, Hypolipidemic, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and wound healing, Anthelmintic potentials are evaluated by different in vitro/in vivo methods on this plant have been reported. Conclusion: Various conventional uses have been reported that require profound scientific investigation. several pharmacological activities have been reported for the Anthocephalus cadamba . The present review intends to deliver a concise account of its ethnobotanical uses, and phytochemistry with an in-depth study of its phytoconstituents, facts, and prospects of the potential pharmacological activities of this golden plant. An extensive literature survey was undertaken through different online platforms viz. Google Scholar and online databases namely PubMed, Science Direct, and Springer. All papers based on traditional medicinal uses and pharmacological properties were included.