COUMARINS IN ORCHIDACEAE: A REVIEW CONNECTING ETHNOMEDICINE AND THERAPEUTIC EXPECTATIONS

Abstract

Orchids hold a strong ethnomedicinal background with varied bioactive compounds including coumarins. The current review explores the coumarin compounds reported in the family of Orchidaceae to achieve better therapeutic expectations. This review was conducted from November 2019 to April 2021 by applying the mixed-method review approach. Ayapin, Coumarin, dihydroayapin, denthyrsin, 3,4-dihydrocoumarin, dendrocoumarin, esculetin, scoparone, scopoletin, scopolin, sinensin A and sinensin B were found to have been reported in orchids. Even though preliminary phytochemical screening of several orchids revealed the presence of coumarins, only a few of them were further investigated for their isolation, identification and pharmacological activity. This lacuna on the role of coumarins in Orchidaceae demanded a further investigation on their ethnomedicinal background. Ethnobotanical surveys conducted by various researchers have substantiated the use of orchids in a varied range of illnesses. Interestingly, the documented folklore claims correlate with the unique anti-inflammatory and anti-edema potential of the coumarin entity. Thus the review highlight the coumarin compounds reported in orchids that could provide better insight for further investigation of this secondary metabolite in the family of Orchidaceae owing to its therapeutic excellence.