Malva species: Insights on its chemical composition towards pharmacological applications

• Published in: Phytotherapy research 2020-03, Vol.34 (3), p.546-567
• Main Authors: Sharifi‐Rad, Javad, Melgar‐Lalanne, Guiomar, Hernández‐Álvarez, Alan Javier, Taheri, Yasaman, Shaheen, Shabnum, Kregiel, Dorota, Antolak, Hubert, Pawlikowska, Ewelina, Brdar‐Jokanović, Milka, Rajkovic, Jovana, Hosseinabadi, Tahereh, Ljevnaić‐Mašić, Branka, Baghalpour, Navid, Mohajeri, Maryam, Fokou, Patrick Valere Tsouh, Martins, Natália
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anticancer properties; Antimicrobial activity; Antioxidants; Biological activity; Biological effects; Chemical composition; Chemical compounds; Clinical trials; Cultivation; Diuretics; Flavonoids; Flowers; Food; Food composition; Food industry; habitat; In vivo methods and tests; Leaves; Malva; Organic chemistry; Organs; Ornamental plants; Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmaceuticals; pharmacological properties; phytochemistry; Polyphenols; Polysaccharides; Saccharides; Skin diseases; Skin injuries; Tannins; Terpenes; traditional uses; Vitamins; Wound healing
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6550

Malvaceae family is typical from the Mediterranean region, contains 240 genera and more than 4,200 species. They are most commonly used as ornamental plants, although they can also be conceived as a food resource and remedy for various diseases, such as digestive, respiratory, genitourinary, throat infections, and skeletal and skin disorders, as also injuries where they are profoundly applied for skin care and as antiseptic and demulcent. They also possess diuretic, lenitive, spasmolytic, and laxative effects, besides to be used as antidiarrheal. Thus, the present review provides in‐depth data on Malva spp. potential applications and phytochemical composition for food and pharmaceutical industries. Habitat and cultivation conditions and the clinical reports related to its biological effects are also emphasized. Malva spp. possess a wide variety of chemical constituents (such as polysaccharides, coumarins, flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins, terpenes, and tannins) found in different plant organs, especially in leaves and flowers, connected to their biological activity. In general, Malva spp. have rather moderate antimicrobial activity, high antiinflammatory and wound healing activities, strong antioxidant activity, and anticancer properties. Results from in vitro and in vivo experiments encourage more in‐depth studies, namely clinical trials, towards to improve knowledge on the use of Malva spp. for the treatment of various health conditions in humans.