Overview of phytochemical compounds and pharmacology activities of cratoxylum genus

Abstract

The Cratoxylum genus belongs to the Guttiferae/Hypericaceae family and includes 6 accepted species, this genus is distributed in Southeast Asia. Plants belonging to this genus are being used in the traditional medicine system in Asia countries such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. This article reviewed the scientific work about the Cratoxylum genus regarding their traditional uses, phytochemical compounds, and pharmacological activities. The information was systematically combined from the scientific literature database including Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and online Science Direct. The literature survey exposed various traditional uses of Cratoxylum species, such as in remedy the stomach ache, fever, cough, itch, ulcers, diarrhea, abdominal complaints, internal bleeding, and food poisoning. Phytochemical compounds from Cratoxylum species have been presented including flavonoid xanthone, benzophenone, terpenoid, quinone, sterol and other phenolic compounds. The extract of Cratoxylum species has a wide range of pharmacological activities such as cytotoxic, antiplasmodial, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiulcer, inhibitor α-glucosidase and anti-inflammatory. Cratoxylum spp. are widely used in traditional medicines and have many pharmacological activities. However, some species of Cratoxylum genus need further research regarding its mechanism-based pharmacological activities and chemical constituents.