Melastoma malabathricum (L.) Smith Ethnomedicinal Uses, Chemical Constituents, and Pharmacological Properties: A Review

Melastoma malabathricum L. (Melastomataceae) is one of the 22 species found in the Southeast Asian region, including Malaysia. Considered as native to tropical and temperate Asia and the Pacific Islands, this commonly found small shrub has gained herbal status in the Malay folklore belief as well as...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine 2012-01, Vol.2012 (2012), p.1-48
Main Authors: Zakaria, Zainul Amiruddin, Akim, A. Md, Othman, Fezah, Suhaili, Z., Affandi, M. M. R. Meor Mohd, Rofiee, M. S., Yob, N. J., Joffry, S. Mohd, Desa, M. N. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antioxidants
Constituents
Cytotoxicity
Diarrhea
Dysentery
Embryos
Ethnomedicine
Flowers & plants
Hemorrhoids
Herbal medicine
Inflammation
Melastoma malabathricum
Melastomataceae
Pain perception
Review
Seeds
Shoots
Waterborne diseases
Wound healing
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Melastoma malabathricum L. (Melastomataceae) is one of the 22 species found in the Southeast Asian region, including Malaysia. Considered as native to tropical and temperate Asia and the Pacific Islands, this commonly found small shrub has gained herbal status in the Malay folklore belief as well as the Indian, Chinese, and Indonesian folk medicines. Ethnopharmacologically, the leaves, shoots, barks, seeds, and roots of M. malabathricum have been used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, hemorrhoids, cuts and wounds, toothache, and stomachache. Scientific findings also revealed the wide pharmacological actions of various parts of M. malabthricum, such as antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antidiarrheal, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities. Various types of phytochemical constituents have also been isolated and identifed from different parts of M. malabathricum. Thus, the aim of the present review is to present comprehensive information on ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities of M. malabathricum.
ISSN:1741-427X
1741-4288
DOI:10.1155/2012/258434