AN UPDATED PHYTOPHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW ON HAMELIA PATENS JACQ.

Hamelia patens Jacq. (Rubiaceae) also known as firebush is an ornamental plant native to Florida and has been used traditionally in a number of conditions, including diabetes, pain, skin diseases, respiratory problems, dysentery, etc. This review aims to provide an overview of the plant profile, its phytoconstituents and pharmacological activities. Alkaloids of indole and oxindole class like rumberine, pteropodine, isopteropodine, mitrajavine, flavonoids like kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, 7-0-a-L-rhamnopyranoside, 5, 7, 2’, 5’tetrahydroxyflavanone 7-D-gluco-pyranoside, (-) epicatechin, 5, 7, 2’, 5’- tetrahydroxyflavanone, narirutin and rosmarinic acid, carbohydrate, proteins and tannins have been identified and isolated from firebush. Different extracts of different parts of Hamelia patens have shown various pharmacological activities like antioxidant, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antidepressant, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, antilithiatic, hepatoprotective, wound healing, blood sugar lowering, cytotoxic and nanotechnological research has also been conducted. Further research is required for the identification and isolation of bioactive constituents, which might be used as potential drugs in the near future.