A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF MIRABILIS JALAPA L.: PHYTOCHEMISTRY, PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES, AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL

Mirabilis jalapa L., commonly known as the Four O’ Clock plant, is a perennial herb belonging to the family Nyctaginaceae. Besides its ornamental importance, the plant has been extensively utilized in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation, infections, wounds, diabetes, and various other ailments. The present review summarizes the botanical characteristics, taxonomy, geographical distribution, traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities of M. jalapa. Phytochemical investigations have revealed the presence of diverse bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, triterpenes, sterols, glycosides, proteins, peptides, and betalain pigments distributed throughout different plant parts. Experimental studies have demonstrated a wide range of biological activities such as antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiviral, antiasthmatic, antinociceptive, wound-healing, antispasmodic, anticancer, antifungal, anthelmintic, and hepatoprotective effects. These pharmacological properties support many of its traditional medicinal applications. The accumulated evidence suggests that M. jalapa represents a valuable source of natural therapeutic agents and warrants further investigations to isolate active constituents, elucidate mechanisms of action, and validate its efficacy and safety through clinical studies.