Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Uncaria gambir (W. Hunter) Roxb: From phytochemical composition to pharmacological importance

Mohd Faiz Mat Saad¹, Hoe-Han Goh¹, Roslee Rajikan², Tengku Roslina Tuan Yusof³, Syarul Nataqain Baharum¹, Hamidun Bunawan¹

¹Institute of Systems Biology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi; ²Dietetics Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 50300 Kuala Lumpur; ³Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) Sungai Chuchuh, Padang Besar, 02100 Perlis Indera Kayangan, Malaysia.

For correspondence:- Hamidun Bunawan Email: hamidun.bunawan@ukm.edu.my Tel:+60389214570

Accepted: 25 July 2020 Published: 31 August 2020

Citation: Saad MF, Goh H, Rajikan R, Yusof TR, Baharum SN, Bunawan H. Uncaria gambir (W. Hunter) Roxb: From phytochemical composition to pharmacological importance. Trop J Pharm Res 2020; 19(8):1767-1773 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v19i8.28

© 2020 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that uses a funding model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited..

Abstract

Purpose: To present an overview of the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological effects of the ‘wonder’ plant, Uncaria gambir (W. Hunter) Roxb.

Methods: The literature search for information on phytochemical composition and pharmacological importance of U. gambir was undertaken using diverse electronic search engines, including Google, Scopus, Web of Science, scientific literature, and databases (Pubmed, Springer and Science Direct). Other relevant literature sources include books, book chapters, conference papers, theses, and other scientific publications.

Results: Uncaria gambir Roxb possesses significant medicinal potentials as an antioxidant, anthelmintic, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, and for the management of osteoarthritis. Interest has increased among researchers for the utilization of this plant in complementary medicine, for example, to relieve sore throat, spongy gum, and dysentery, to treat atherosclerosis and obesity, and to prolong sexual intercourse.

Conclusion: Uncaria gambir demonstrates significant pharmacological properties. This review will be useful for prospective research and development of this ethnomedicinal plant into potentially valuable health products.

Keywords: Anthelmintic, Antibacterial,Anti-Diabetic, Osteoarthritis, Uncaria gambir