Phytochemical and pharmacological studies of the genus Tacca: A review

Abstract

Tacca is an important genus comprising of approximately 15 species of the medicinal plants (Taccaceae). The plants are used in traditional medicine to relieve pains of the body and stomach, as an antidote for food poisoning as well as for their analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activities. Chemical studies have underlined more than 120 constituents have been isolated from Tacca, including steroidals, diarylheptanoids, phenolics, flavonoids, sesquitepenoids, triterpenoids and starch. Steroidals and diarylheptanoids showed potent bioactivities, such as cytotoxic, microtubule-stabilizing, NF-kB activation and PPAR transcriptional and insecticidal activities. The starch from T. leontopetaloides and T. involucrata have high amylase content and showed potential use in food and drug system. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved.