Ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Pogostemon heyneanus Benth: A review

Abstract

A renewed interest in using nature-originated medicines can be seen throughout the world due to their benefits when compared to synthetic or semi-synthetic drugs in the aspect of increasing the quality of life of human beings. Pogostemon heyneanus Benth is a prominent and well-known medicinal plant in Asian countries that is recommended with high value in traditional medicinal practices, Ayurvedic treatments and folkloric use. It is also known as 'Indian patchouli' and 'Java patchouli'. P. heyneanus is pharmacologically and economically important due to its essential oil and is used in perfumery industries as well. The consistency of the presence of a wide range of phytochemical constituents such as phenolic compounds, terpenes, steroids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins enables activities like cytotoxic and anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, gastroprotective, etc. Essential oil of P. heyneanus is comprised of α–pinene, β-pinene, limonene, β-pachoulin, seychellene, β-caryophyllene, α–guaiene, nerolidol and patchouli alcohol. Moreover, P. heyneanus is a unique cause having acetophenone as its main component which was not reported in the essential oils of other Pogostemon species. The scope of the present review was to gather scientific information on P. heyneanus in terms of habitat and distribution, traditional uses and ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and medicinal activities (cytotoxic and anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant and gastroprotective), which were published before 31st July 2022.