Plectranthus monostachyus: Pharmacological Studies, Isolated Compounds and Future Prospects.
Ogechukwu Nnanyelugo Isiogugu, Oluchi Mary Precious Muoghara, Martha Nneoma Ofokansi, Ikechukwu Emmanuel Peter, Saito Yohei and Nakagawa-Goto Kyoko
- School of Pharmacy, College of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920–1192, Japan.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria.
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599–7568, U.S.A.
- WPI Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920–1192, Japan
| Key words:
Plectranthus monostrachyus, pharmacological activities, therapeutic potentials, bioactive compounds.
*Corresponding Author: ogeisiogugu@stu.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Page No: 252-264
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AbstractPlectranthus monostachyus, a member of the Lamiaceae family, is widely used in traditional medicine across West and Central Africa for ailments such as infections, inflammation, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorders. Despite its ethnomedicinal importance, it remains understudied compared to other species in the Plectranthus genus. This review aimed to evaluate the pharmacological activities as well as isolated bioactive compounds of P. monostachyus by synthesizing existing research, elucidating its therapeutic potential, and highlighting directions for future drug discovery and modern pharmacotherapy. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using SciFinder, Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect for English-language articles published up to May 2024. Studies reporting on the ethnopharmacological, morphological, phytochemical, and pharmacological properties of P. monostachyus were included, with emphasis on bioactive compounds and their documented therapeutic effects. The species contains diverse phytochemicals, including flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and essential oils, which are associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and anti-sickling activities. Studies confirmed the plant’s pharmacological properties, validating several ethnomedicinal claims. However, research is limited, with many studies being published several years ago, or lacking detailed mechanistic analyses. Taxonomic ambiguities and the scarcity of clinical studies further restrict the full understanding of its therapeutic potential. Future investigations should focus on comprehensive phytochemical profiling, mechanistic studies, clinical evaluations, and standardization of extracts to fully exploit the species as a potential source of novel therapeutic agents.
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