Mirabilis jalapa Linn.: A Folklore Ayurvedic Medicinal Plant in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Mirabilis jalapa Linn. (Nyctaginaceae), commonly referred to as the Four O'clock plant (Sinhala name: Hendirikka), is a popular ornamental plant grown for the beauty of its flowers and used in folklore remedies. This plant is used to treat a variety of disease conditions around the world. It is widely used for abdominal colic, aphrodisiac, boils, diarrhea, inflammations, genitourinary disorders, muscular pain, and other issues by people from various countries. This plant contains several phytochemical compounds isolated from its parts, such as alkaloids, brassicasterol, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, phytosterols (beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol), oleanolic acid, trigonelline, and ursolic acid. This plant has been studied for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial (antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal), antioxidant & cytotoxic, anti-tumor, anti-nociceptive, antihistamine and immune modulatory, anti-tubercular induced hepatotoxic effect, antiparasitic, dermatological, and hypoglycemic and antihyperlipidemic properties. It is also used as a reductant in the production of gold nanoparticles. This research aims to review the literature on Mirabilis Jalapa’s morphology, ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, and pharmacological properties.

In vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Leaves of Jeffreycia zeylanica Using the Egg Albumin Denaturation Method and Human Red Blood Cell Stabilization Method

“…Then allowed for cold macerating for about 1 week with frequent agitation (to preserve the heat labile phytochemicals). Then the micelle was filtered using a muslin cloth, obtained filtrate was concentrated using the rotary vacuum evaporator [19]. Extracts were collected into sterile air-tight containers and stored in the freezing compartment of the refrigerator until use [20].…”

“…Plants can be used to generate and isolate a large variety of phytochemical substances, as secondary metabolites. At the present time, several anti-inflammatory compounds originating from plants are being used as medicines and have no adverse side effects [12,13,14]. In Sri Lanka, medicinal plants have been used for centuries to treat a variety of inflammatory conditions.…”

Therapeutic Potential of Carica papaya Linn.: A Comprehensive Review of Its Pharmacological Properties and Health Benefits, with Emphasis on Dengue Fever Healing

“…Plants and their products have been used for centuries in complementary medicine to treat various human diseases [1][2][3][4]. According to studies, approximately 80% of the world's population relies on plant products for primary medical care [5][6][7][8][9]. These plant-based products possess multiple benefits over synthetic drugs, including being less expensive, more readily available, and having fewer side effects after either brief or prolonged consumption [8][9][10][11][12].…”

A Comprehensive Review of Salacia reticulata: Botanical, Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Insights

“…There are about 1,414 medicinal plant species present in Sri Lanka. It is found that among them, around 250 species are commonly utilized while around 50 species are heavily involved [8][9][10]. The present example of Salacia reticulata Wight (HIPPOCRATEACEAE), also known as Kothala himbutu/ Himbutu wel by Sinhalese is a valuable species extensively utilized for its anti-diabetic properties [11].…”