Studies on the traditional use of medicines are recognized as a way to learn about potential future medicines.
Wedelia is an extensive genus of the family Asteraceae, comprising about 60 different species.
Wedelia trilobata Linn.
has long been used as traditional herbal medicine in South America,
China, Japan, India and for the treatment of a variety of ailments. The
aim of this review was to collect all available scientific literature
published and combine it into this review. The present review comprises
the ethnopharmacological, phytochemical and therapeutic potential of
W. trilobata.
An exhaustive survey of literature revealed that tannin, saponins,
flavonoids, phenol, terpenoids constitute major classes of
phytoconstituents of this plant. Pharmacological reports revealed that
this plant has antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial,
wound healing, larvicidal, trypanocidal, uterine contraction,
antitumor, hepatoprotective, and in the treatment of diabetes, menstrual
pain and reproductive problems in women.
W. trilobata seems to
hold great potential for in-depth investigation for various biological
activities, especially their effects on inflammation, bacterial
infections, and reproductive system. Through this review, the authors
hope to attract the attention of natural product researchers throughout
the world to focus on the unexplored potential of
W. trilobata, and it may be useful in developing new formulations with more therapeutic value.
