Ethnopharmocology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Orthosiphon: A review

Background: Plants of the genus Orthosiphon (Lamiaceae) have been widely employed in traditional and ethnic medicines for the treatment of various diseases, including diabetes, kidney stones, edema, rheumatism, hepatitis, hypertension, and urinary tract disorders. Purpose: This review summarized the...

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Main Authors: Rui Wang, Ling Qiu, Qing-wen Zhang, Ligen Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Phytomedicine Plus
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031325000211
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author Rui Wang
Ling Qiu
Qing-wen Zhang
Ligen Lin
author_facet Rui Wang
Ling Qiu
Qing-wen Zhang
Ligen Lin
author_sort Rui Wang
collection DOAJ
description Background: Plants of the genus Orthosiphon (Lamiaceae) have been widely employed in traditional and ethnic medicines for the treatment of various diseases, including diabetes, kidney stones, edema, rheumatism, hepatitis, hypertension, and urinary tract disorders. Purpose: This review summarized the research progresses in botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities on plants of the genus Orthosiphon. Additionally, this review described the shortcomings of studies on these species, thus serving as the basis of further researches and development of these traditional herbal medicines. Method: Orthosiphon-related information was collected from the online databases, such as Google Scholar, SciFinder, Web of Science, Elsevier, PubMed and China Knowledge Resource Integrated (CNKI). Results: Plants of the genus Orthosiphon are widely distributed in African, Australia, South Asian, and Southeast Asian, and in China. Phytochemical investigations on Orthosiphon species have revealed the presence of various compounds, mainly including phenolic acids, flavonoids, diterpenoids, triterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and chromenes. Previous reports have demonstrated the diverse pharmacological properties of extracts and constituents derived from Orthosiphon, such as anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, analgesic, and nephroprotective effects. However, previous researches on this genus were somewhat limited and skewed towards a few species, with a particular emphasis on O. aristatus, O. wulfenioides, O. thymiflorus and O. rubicundus (D. Don) Benth, which might be attributed to the ethnopharmacological background, geographical constraints, and the distribution of these species. In the future, more investigations on other species of the genus Orthosiphon are needed. Conclusion: This study provided a comprehensive overview of the ethnopharmacological, phytochemical, and pharmacological progresses related to the genus of Orthosiphon. Despite substantial bias in attention among various species of the genus Orthosiphon, its potential as health food and therapeutic agents is evident. The genus is an underexplored source of bioactive compounds with potential in various therapeutic areas. This review laid the groundwork for further investigation and development of these traditional herbal remedies.
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spelling doaj-art-c7cd768ffeb443da96ecb6645122c9a32025-02-10T04:35:24ZengElsevierPhytomedicine Plus2667-03132025-02-0151100748Ethnopharmocology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Orthosiphon: A reviewRui Wang0Ling Qiu1Qing-wen Zhang2Ligen Lin3State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau 999078, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau 999078, ChinaCorresponding author at: University of Macau, Room 6042, N22, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macao, China.; State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau 999078, ChinaCorresponding author at: University of Macau, Room 6044, N22, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macao, China.; State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau 999078, ChinaBackground: Plants of the genus Orthosiphon (Lamiaceae) have been widely employed in traditional and ethnic medicines for the treatment of various diseases, including diabetes, kidney stones, edema, rheumatism, hepatitis, hypertension, and urinary tract disorders. Purpose: This review summarized the research progresses in botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities on plants of the genus Orthosiphon. Additionally, this review described the shortcomings of studies on these species, thus serving as the basis of further researches and development of these traditional herbal medicines. Method: Orthosiphon-related information was collected from the online databases, such as Google Scholar, SciFinder, Web of Science, Elsevier, PubMed and China Knowledge Resource Integrated (CNKI). Results: Plants of the genus Orthosiphon are widely distributed in African, Australia, South Asian, and Southeast Asian, and in China. Phytochemical investigations on Orthosiphon species have revealed the presence of various compounds, mainly including phenolic acids, flavonoids, diterpenoids, triterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and chromenes. Previous reports have demonstrated the diverse pharmacological properties of extracts and constituents derived from Orthosiphon, such as anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, analgesic, and nephroprotective effects. However, previous researches on this genus were somewhat limited and skewed towards a few species, with a particular emphasis on O. aristatus, O. wulfenioides, O. thymiflorus and O. rubicundus (D. Don) Benth, which might be attributed to the ethnopharmacological background, geographical constraints, and the distribution of these species. In the future, more investigations on other species of the genus Orthosiphon are needed. Conclusion: This study provided a comprehensive overview of the ethnopharmacological, phytochemical, and pharmacological progresses related to the genus of Orthosiphon. Despite substantial bias in attention among various species of the genus Orthosiphon, its potential as health food and therapeutic agents is evident. The genus is an underexplored source of bioactive compounds with potential in various therapeutic areas. This review laid the groundwork for further investigation and development of these traditional herbal remedies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031325000211OrthosiphonEthnopharmacologyPhytochemistryPharmacology
spellingShingle Rui Wang
Ling Qiu
Qing-wen Zhang
Ligen Lin
Ethnopharmocology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Orthosiphon: A review
Phytomedicine Plus
Orthosiphon
Ethnopharmacology
Phytochemistry
Pharmacology
title Ethnopharmocology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Orthosiphon: A review
title_full Ethnopharmocology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Orthosiphon: A review
title_fullStr Ethnopharmocology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Orthosiphon: A review
title_full_unstemmed Ethnopharmocology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Orthosiphon: A review
title_short Ethnopharmocology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Orthosiphon: A review
title_sort ethnopharmocology phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus orthosiphon a review
topic Orthosiphon
Ethnopharmacology
Phytochemistry
Pharmacology
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031325000211
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AT ligenlin ethnopharmocologyphytochemistryandpharmacologyofthegenusorthosiphonareview