Ethnopharmacological potential of Anisomeles malabarica: a systematic review on traditional uses and bioactive compounds.

Anisomeles malabarica, the commonly called "Malabar catmint" is a wild tropical plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae. Traditionally this plant is used as mosquito repellent, snakebite antidote and to treat fever and gastrointestinal discomfort by the people of South India. It is an important endemic plant used in the indigenous medicine systems of India such as Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani in various formulations. The rich phytochemistry of A. malabarica includes cembrane terpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, flavones, glycosides, and other bioactive compounds contributing for its medicinal potential. Extracts and metabolites of A. malabarica shows wide range of significant pharmacological effects in combating cancer cells through apoptosis, inhibiting viral agents (HPV and SARS-CoV-2), immune regulation, and DNA protection. The phytocompounds of A. malabarica were also reported for anti-malarial, anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-epileptic, anti-diabetic, anti-parasitic activity, and hepatoprotective properties. This systematic review summarizes the therapeutic properties with botanical characteristics, ethnobotany, and phytochemistry of A. malabarica. It also documents the ingrained traditional use of A. malabarica in religious custom in southern states of India. Therefore further exploration of this promising medicinal herb for its metabolites and ethnobotanical records would possibly support the development of modern medicine systems and provides insights for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]