“Haripriya” God’s Favorite: Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. ‑ At a Glance

ABSTRACT

The Kadam tree is highly regarded as religiously and culturally in India being sacred to Lord Krishna, and hence, the tree is also known as Haripriya, God’s favorite. This article provides a detailed review of Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb) Miq. (family – Rubiaceae) that covers taxonomical classification, vernacular names, geographical distribution, botanical description, ethnobotanical information, pharmacological studies, and phytochemistry. Several parts of this plant have a number of traditional applications for treating humanity, which includes mouth ulcer, subdermal inflammatory deposits, stomatitis, fever, gastric disturbance, astringent, febrifuge, antiseptic, diuretics, anemia, uterine complaints, increase breast milk in lactating women, improvement of semen quality in men, nanotechnology, and agroforestry. The plant parts produce various pharmacological activities such as antidiabetic, antioxidant, antitumor, nephrotoxicity, diuretic and laxative, antihepatotoxic, hypolipidemic, analgesic, antipyretic, anti‑inflammatory, antifilarial antimalarial, sedative, antiepileptic, urolithiatic, immunomodulatory, antivenom, gastroprotective, anthelminthic, wound healing, antimicrobial, geranyl acetate esterase inhibition along with toxicological studies, nanotechnology, and agroforestry, which are newly added applications. Many phytoconstituents were isolated using various solvents and obtained compounds, such as cadambine, 3α‑dihydrocadambine, isodihydrocadambine, β‑sitosterol, amygdalin, phelasin, ursolic acid, linalool, and geraniol that belong to alkaloids, coumarins, terpenoids, diterpenoids, triterpenes glycosides, sterols, flavonoids, amides, and fatty acids. Various solvent extracts and their gas chromatography–mass spectrometry studies have confirmed structures of some important phytoconstituents. Hence, this review can be a good reference for researchers who are willing to continue further research about A. cadamba.

KEYWORDS

• Anthocephalus cadamba
• ethnobotanical information
• Haripriya
• pharmacological activities
• phytoconstituents

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• DOI10.4103/pr.pr_102_19Copy