A Review of the Ethnobotanical Use, Chemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Constituents Derived from the Plant Genus Geijera (Rutaceae)

Abstract

Geijera Schott is a plant genus of the Rutaceae Juss. (rue and citrus) family, comprising six species which are all native to Oceania. Of the plants belonging to this genus, the most significant species that has a customary use is Geijera parviflora, which was used by Indigenous Australians, primarily as a pain reliever. Herein, a comprehensive review of the literature published on the genus Geijera from 1930 to 2023 was conducted. This is the first review for this plant genus, and it highlights the chemical constituents reported to date, together with the range of pharmacological properties described from the various species and different parts of the plant. These properties include anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, insect repellent, analgesic, neuroactive, and anti-cancer activities. Finally, a reflection on some of the important areas for future focused studies of this plant genus is provided.

Phytochemical Profiling Studies of Alkaloids and Coumarins from the Australian Plant Geijera parviflora Lindl. (Rutaceae) and Their Anthelmintic and Antimicrobial Assessment

“…These compounds have displayed analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial effects amongst other activities, e.g., monoamine oxidase inhibition (geiparvarin 3), collagen III suppression (N-(acetoxymethyl) flindersine 2), and antifungal activity (auraptene 9), and, thus, warrant further investigation [4,[10][11][12][13][14]. In the present work, large-scale isolation of G. parviflora coumarins and alkaloids from the bark and leaves was performed, so that some of its major constituent compounds could be evaluated for other pharmacological activities, such as anthelmintic activity and antimicrobial activity, in addition to their known activities which have been recently reviewed by the authors in a separate publication [15]. Previous studies have mostly characterised the constituents of the essential oils from the leaves of this plant, with fewer studies on the other plant parts, such as the fruit, bark, and leaf extracts, and no studies of the flowers.…”

“…Figure 1.Compounds from the bark and leaves of Geijera parviflora.Previous studies have mostly characterised the constituents of the essential oils from the leaves of this plant, with fewer studies on the other plant parts, such as the fruit, bark, and leaf extracts, and no studies of the flowers. In the present work, large-scale isolation of G. parviflora coumarins and alkaloids from the bark and leaves was performed, so that some of its major constituent compounds could be evaluated for other pharmacological activities, such as anthelmintic activity and antimicrobial activity, in addition to their known activities which have been recently reviewed by the authors in a separate publication[15].…”