Ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of the genus Coccinia Wight & Arn: A comprehensive review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Coccinia species have long been utilized for their cultural significance, ecological balance, and managing diverse ailments since ancient times. These plants are indispensable sources of traditional medicines for ailments such as diabetes, skin diseases, asthma, constipation, stomachache, malaria, snakebites, jaundice, cough, and leishmaniasis among others.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This review provides an overview of existing knowledge related to ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and toxicology of Coccinia species.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Information was obtained through surveying electronic databases, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, SCI-Finder, Springer, Elsevier, and other related bibliographic sources such as theses and books published between 1973 and 2024.

RESULTS

Six (6) Coccinia species have been reported as significant sources of traditional medicines that remedy diverse ailments, prominently, diabetes, asthma, constipation, jaundice, and sexually transmitted infections. A total of 204 phytochemicals including terpenes and terpenoids (24), phenolic compounds (53), esters (21), and hydrocarbons (21) among others were reported. The crude extracts and screened bioactive constituents exhibited outstanding pharmacological activities such as antidiabetic, anticancer, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antileishmanial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antitussive, hepatoprotective, antinociceptive, anti-dyslipidemic, and anti-ulcers.

CONCLUSION

This review scrutinized the data on traditional medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Coccinia species. Several pharmacological properties of Coccinia species are consistent with their ethnomedicinal uses. Coccinia species displayed some variations in their phytochemical profile indicating a diverse range of potentially beneficial properties across different species. Few studies have focused on the toxicology of Coccinia species, and thus, the need for further research on this area, for pharmaceutical standardization.