A Comprehensive Review on Traditional Uses, Chemical Constituents, and Diverse Pharmacological Importance of the Genus Breynia

Abstract

The genus Breynia (family Phyllanthaceae) is widely distributed in Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and some regions of India. Traditionally, species of this genus were used to treat various disorders, like skin diseases, pain, cough, tonsillitis, dysentery, and headache. Various studies about this genus are available, but reviews highlighting its pharmacology and phytochemistry are inadequate. This review highlights the pharmacology, phytochemistry, and chemotaxonomic classification of the phytochemicals of ten species of the genus Breynia. About 90 compounds have been isolated from Breynia species, including glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, lignans, phenolic compounds, and catechins. Their structure and presence in each species are presented in tabular form. In pharmacological medicines, the crude extracts and metabolites of the genus Breynia have been found to exhibit diverse biological activity, including, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiinflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, and activity against various blood disorders. Few isolated compounds show enzyme inhibitory activity (tyrosinase, xanthine oxidase, and elastase inhibition).