A Review on Taxonomy, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Threats and Conservation of Elaeocarpus L. (Elaeocarpaceae)

• Published in: The Botanical review 2020-12, Vol.86 (3-4), p.298-328
• Main Authors: Prasannan, Priya, Jeyaram, Yasotha, Pandian, Arjun, Raju, Ramasubbu, Sekar, Sudharshan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Life Sciences; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Ecology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Rosidae
• ISSN: 0006-8101; 1874-9372
• DOI: 10.1007/s12229-020-09229-9

The genus Elaeocarpus is considered as largest among the family Elaeocarpaceae recorded by ca. 360 species with significant distribution throughout the world except from Africa and America. This review provides elaborate and comprehensive details on taxonomy, phylogeny, Economic botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, threats and conservation of Elaeocarpus . This genus is taxonomically significant; however, the morphological variation among the species of Elaeocarpus and its allied species were ineffectually known and not even fully monographed. Phylogenetic relationships of this genus have investigated by several studies using plastid trnL, nuclear ITS and trnF sequences. Most of the species of Elaeocarpus are economically important as timber and fruits are edible, seeds used as beads for rosaries, bracelets, necklaces and also for their ostensible magico-religious purposes whereas, some trees also have reported with medicinal properties. Phytochemical studies on various species of Elaeocarpus indicated that it has reported with some biologically active phytoconstituents. Pharmacological studies attempted through crude extracts and individual phytoconstituent describe the biological efficiency of Elaeocarpus . For boosting sales of seeds of Elaeocarpus , the traders use legends and myths of the seeds by branding and telemarketing techniques. These demands on seeds raise the collection in wild, and affect seedling recruitment in the wild which lead to affect the natural population. About one-third of species was included under the IUCN red list and need immediate attention. Very few attempts have been undertaken on conservation by macro and micropropagation techniques. It is a first attempt on the compilation of taxonomy, phylogeny, Economic botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, threats and conservation of Elaeocarpus.