A comprehensive review on phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Vernonia amygdalina

Abstract

Vernonia amygdalina Delile is a small tree with brittle branches, up to 10 m tall and commonly called as bitter leaf due to its bitter taste. It is native of tropical Africa but widely found on riverside and lakes areas, in woodland and grassland up to 2800 m altitude, in areas where the average rainfall is 750-2000 mm. The plant is considered as a medicinal herb and mostly used in traditional medicine system. The principal phytoconstituents of the plant are oxalate, phytates, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, cyanogenic glycosides, alkaloids, terpenes, anthraquinone, steroid, coumarins, lignans, xanthones, edotides and sesquiterpenes and phenol. The plant attributed with anti-cancer, antidiabetic, anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory, cathartic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, antioxidant, chemo protective and cytotoxic, Analgesic, anthelmintic, Anti-pyretic, hypolipidaemic properties and also used as Hemolytic, Antimutagenic, Anti-leishmanial, Spermatogenic, anti-platelet and abortifacient agent. The plant was traditionally used as appetizer and against the problems like constipation and diarrhoea. It is considered as a treatment for alcohol induced hepatotoxicity.