Floral Elegance Meets Medicinal Marvels: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of the Genus <i>Lagerstroemia</i> L.

The genus <i>Lagerstroemia</i> L. (Lythraceae), known for its exquisite flowers and prolonged flowering period, is commonly employed in traditional medicinal systems across Asian countries, where it has always been consumed as tea or employed to address ailments such as diabetes, urinary...

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Main Authors: Ziwei Yue, Yan Xu, Ming Cai, Xiaohui Fan, Huitang Pan, Donglin Zhang, Qixiang Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/21/3016
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author Ziwei Yue
Yan Xu
Ming Cai
Xiaohui Fan
Huitang Pan
Donglin Zhang
Qixiang Zhang
author_facet Ziwei Yue
Yan Xu
Ming Cai
Xiaohui Fan
Huitang Pan
Donglin Zhang
Qixiang Zhang
author_sort Ziwei Yue
collection DOAJ
description The genus <i>Lagerstroemia</i> L. (Lythraceae), known for its exquisite flowers and prolonged flowering period, is commonly employed in traditional medicinal systems across Asian countries, where it has always been consumed as tea or employed to address ailments such as diabetes, urinary disorders, coughs, fevers, inflammation, pain, and anesthesia. Its diverse uses may be attributed to its rich active ingredients. Currently, at least 364 biological compounds have been identified from <i>Lagerstroemia</i> extracts, encompassing various types such as terpenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, and phenylpropanoids. Extensive in vitro and in vivo experiments have examined the pharmacological activities of different extracts, revealing their potential in various domains, including but not limited to antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antitumor, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and hepatoprotective effects. Additionally, 20 core components have been proven to be associated with antidiabetic and hypoglycemic effects of <i>Lagerstroemia</i>. Overall, <i>Lagerstroemia</i> exhibit substantial medicinal potential, and the alignment between its traditional applications and contemporary pharmacological findings present promising opportunities for further investigation, particularly in food and health products, drug development, herbal teas, and cosmetics. However, evidence-based pharmacological research has largely been confined to in vitro screening and animal model, lacking clinical trials and bioactive compound isolations. Consequently, future endeavors should adopt a more holistic approach.
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issn 2223-7747
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publishDate 2024-10-01
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spelling doaj-art-e741ca1f2e23401cb02a74056929e8df2024-11-08T14:39:20ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-10-011321301610.3390/plants13213016Floral Elegance Meets Medicinal Marvels: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of the Genus <i>Lagerstroemia</i> L.Ziwei Yue0Yan Xu1Ming Cai2Xiaohui Fan3Huitang Pan4Donglin Zhang5Qixiang Zhang6Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaLuoyang Landscape and Greening Center, Luoyang 471000, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaDepartment of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USABeijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaThe genus <i>Lagerstroemia</i> L. (Lythraceae), known for its exquisite flowers and prolonged flowering period, is commonly employed in traditional medicinal systems across Asian countries, where it has always been consumed as tea or employed to address ailments such as diabetes, urinary disorders, coughs, fevers, inflammation, pain, and anesthesia. Its diverse uses may be attributed to its rich active ingredients. Currently, at least 364 biological compounds have been identified from <i>Lagerstroemia</i> extracts, encompassing various types such as terpenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, and phenylpropanoids. Extensive in vitro and in vivo experiments have examined the pharmacological activities of different extracts, revealing their potential in various domains, including but not limited to antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antitumor, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and hepatoprotective effects. Additionally, 20 core components have been proven to be associated with antidiabetic and hypoglycemic effects of <i>Lagerstroemia</i>. Overall, <i>Lagerstroemia</i> exhibit substantial medicinal potential, and the alignment between its traditional applications and contemporary pharmacological findings present promising opportunities for further investigation, particularly in food and health products, drug development, herbal teas, and cosmetics. However, evidence-based pharmacological research has largely been confined to in vitro screening and animal model, lacking clinical trials and bioactive compound isolations. Consequently, future endeavors should adopt a more holistic approach.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/21/3016crape myrtlemedical plantbiological compoundspharmacological effectscorosolic acidantidiabetic
spellingShingle Ziwei Yue
Yan Xu
Ming Cai
Xiaohui Fan
Huitang Pan
Donglin Zhang
Qixiang Zhang
Floral Elegance Meets Medicinal Marvels: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of the Genus <i>Lagerstroemia</i> L.
Plants
crape myrtle
medical plant
biological compounds
pharmacological effects
corosolic acid
antidiabetic
title Floral Elegance Meets Medicinal Marvels: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of the Genus <i>Lagerstroemia</i> L.
title_full Floral Elegance Meets Medicinal Marvels: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of the Genus <i>Lagerstroemia</i> L.
title_fullStr Floral Elegance Meets Medicinal Marvels: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of the Genus <i>Lagerstroemia</i> L.
title_full_unstemmed Floral Elegance Meets Medicinal Marvels: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of the Genus <i>Lagerstroemia</i> L.
title_short Floral Elegance Meets Medicinal Marvels: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of the Genus <i>Lagerstroemia</i> L.
title_sort floral elegance meets medicinal marvels traditional uses phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus i lagerstroemia i l
topic crape myrtle
medical plant
biological compounds
pharmacological effects
corosolic acid
antidiabetic
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/21/3016
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