Phytochemical Constituents and Medicinal Uses of Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br. and Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalzell. (Acanthaceae): A Review

Medicinal plants represent the most ancient ways of medication; medicinal plants are as old as

 mankind in terms of healing. The connection between man and plants in search of drugs in the forest and its surrounding nature holds a tight bond from the distant past. After lots of observation of the plants and their usage by traditional healers, science has recorded this knowledge, and it has included this knowledge in modern pharmacotherapy to prepare a wide range of drugs of plant origin to respond to the challenges that have emerged in the modern era (Petrovska 2012). Medicinal plants have been used for thousands of years to cure and prevent a wide range of illnesses. Medicinal plants function as an important foundation for traditional healthcare systems around the world, offering a rich treasure of bioactive compounds that deliver critical therapeutic benefits. Within this vast field, two members of the family Acanthaceae, Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br. and Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalzell, hold particular scientific and ethnobotanical significance due to their diverse phytochemical profiles and a wide range of validated potential medicinal applications (Patil P H & Surana, 2010; Surana et al., 2008). Medicinal plants are richly valued for their therapeutic properties, scent, and flavouring properties due to their medicinal properties, and have no side effects. People see them as safer than synthetic products. A large number of plants are unaccounted for to date, which possess rich therapeutic potential. Medicinal plants carry a vast array of novel chemical compounds that possess useful pharmacological and therapeutic properties, which can be used directly or by extracting the chemical compounds as starting material in the synthesis of pharmaceutical drugs. In modern medicine, 25% of the ingredients in the prescribed medicines are extracted from medicinal plants. It is also a fact that one quarter of all medical prescriptions are based on substances from plants or synthetic versions of those substances. According to the WHO, 80% of the world's population, mainly in developing countries, relies on plant-based medicines for their healthcare. More than three-quarters of the world's population depends on plants and plant extracts for healthcare. Traditional culture gained deep knowledge of herbal remedies through trial and error over many years; the most important cures were carefully shared verbally from one generation to the next (Gurib-Fakim 2006). 

Over 30% of plant species are used for medicine. India is one of the world's 12 centres of biodiversity. It is home to more than 45,000 plant species, of which 15,000 to 20,000 have medicinal value, and traditional communities use 7,000 to 7,500 species. Medicinal plants play a crucial role in traditional medicine systems, including Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Folk medicine. Ayurveda is the most developed and widely practiced system in India. Medicinal plants are used in various forms, including whole plants, roots, stems, bark, leaves, flowers, seeds, and excretory products such as gum, resins, and latex. It is estimated that the world market for plant-derived drugs may account for about Rs. 2,00,000 crores. Currently, India's contribution is less than Rs. 2000 crores. Indian exports of raw drugs have steadily grown at a rate of 26%, increasing from Rs. 130 crores in 1991-92 to Rs. 165 crores in 1994-95. The annual production of raw materials from medicinal and aromatic plants is valued at about Rs. 200 crores. This is expected to reach US$1150 million by the year 2000 and US$5 trillion by 2050. Various studies have shown the presence of active chemical compounds, such as alkaloids and flavonoids, which blend traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods. Modern science and technology play an important role in this process. A Joint approach is necessary for cultivating, conserving, and preserving valuable plant species through plant molecular biology and plant tissue culture. Research should focus on the reasons behind and methods used in Ayurvedic medicinal practice. It is also important to isolate active components and develop them into a new compound. Finally, the standardization and validation of established herbal medicines, along with other related areas, need attention. Green plants carry and store valuable biochemical products. Many compounds can be extracted and used as chemical feedstocks or as raw materials for various scientific studies. Many secondary metabolites of plants are important for commerce and are added to several pharmaceutical products. (Joy et al., 1998). Many countries rely on plants for therapeutic purposes, and they are the source for multiple strong and effective medications. Only a small portion of the estimated 250,000-500,000 plant species have been studied phytochemically, and an even smaller number of plants have undergone biological or pharmacological screening. Antimicrobial agents are abundant in medicinal plants. (Bader, 2014).

Taxonomic Overview

Acanthaceae is a large and diverse dicotyledonous family of flowering plants, within the order Lamiales, encompassing over 346 genera and approximately 4300 species, found mostly in almost every ecological habitat. These species thrive in tropical and subtropical regions, with a few found in temperate areas. They can be found in moist evergreen forests, as well as dense or open forests. They also grow in tropical dry deciduous and scrubby lands, wet fields and valleys along the coast, and in swamps. This family plays a crucial role in the ecosystem. Pollinators such as butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, hawk moths, bats, and sunbirds rely on their pollen and nectar to survive. Species from this family can also serve as bio indicators for the distribution of plant communities, this connection is evident in the word's etymology, where ' Acan' means it washes reflecting how their leaves contain oil that is used in laundry. The plants in this family are mostly herbs, shrubs, or twining vines or epiphytes. Stems are round to quadrangular. Leaves are simple, usually opposite, decussated, and without stipules. Flowers are bisexual, zygomorphic to sub-actinomorphic, usually arranged in terminal or axillary spikes, and racemes or panicles. Calyx is usually arranged in 4- or 5-lobed. Corolla is sympetalous, with limbs usually 5 in number. Stamens are epipetalous, two or four, and didynamous. Family has a superior ovary, 2-loculed, and placentation axil. Fruit is a capsule, usually loculicidal. Seeds are usually attached to hook-like structures called retinacula, or they may lack this structure entirely. The surface can be smooth or rough, and it may or may not have trichomes or hairs. Sometimes seeds have hygroscopic trichomes that swell when they get wet. (McDade et al., 2008; Xu & Chang, 2017; Jan, 2017). 

Phytochemical report on the family Acanthaceae

The Acanthaceae family is renowned for its wide variety of secondary metabolites. Common classes of compounds include flavonoids, alkaloids, lignans, saponins, steroids, glycosides, benzonoids, phenolic compounds, naphthoquinone, triterpenoids, and fatty acids, which are among the phytochemicals studied in the Acanthaceae. The family has bioactive chemical components, including antibacterial, antifungal, anti-pyretic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, anti-platelet, and insecticidal properties, which have been reported as pharmacological activities in plants of the family. (Javaid Awan et al. 2014.; Rattan 2023).

Medicinal and Ethnobotanical Importance

Traditional medicine continues to be a cornerstone of primary healthcare globally, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that around 70% to 80% of people in developing nations depend on herbal treatment (Sandhya et al., 2006; Jeruto et al., 2008; Muthu et al., 2006; Tsobou et al., 2016). Medicinal plants provide human society with chemical compounds that offer beneficial medicinal and therapeutic properties. This medicinal plant has foundational resources in the synthesis of medications, which have historically been used as healing plants and have been utilized in the formulation of modern drugs in the developing world. 25% of chemical compounds in allopathic medicine are derived from the extraction of medicinal plants. Plants of the Acanthaceae play a major role in the treatment of many deadly diseases. Some plants of this family, like Justicia gendarussa Burm.f., Adathoda zylanica L., and Strobilanthes alternata (Burm.f.) Moylan ex J.R.I. Wood has the capacity to kill or retard the growth of many infectious microbes, as well as dangerous Pseudomonas species.(Prasad, 2014). Asteracantha longifolia (L.) Nees species, which are used in many cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, have several chemical compounds like 2-propanone, Methylhydrazone, Acetaldehyde, Cyclopentane, etc., which have been collected through GC-MS analysis (Doss et al., 2017).

Leaves of some plants of this family are used for skin diseases, backache, eye infections, anti-diarrhoea, cough, wounds, edema, and pneumonia. The plants which are used to treat these diseases are Thunbergia alata Bojer ex Sims, Dyschoriste thunbergiiflora (S. Moore) Lindau, Vesica adhatoda Nees, Dyschoriste radicans Nees, Asystasia mysorensis (Roth) T.Anderson, and Acanthus eminens C.B. Clarke. Barleria grandicalyx Lindau leaves are used for snake bites, whereas Justica betonica L., Justicia flava (Forssk.) Vahl, and Acanthus pubescens (Oliv.) Engl. has been used to treat ulcers, dry cough, flu, and diarrhea. Justicia adhatoda L., Hygrophila spinosa T.Anderson, Barleria prionitis L., and Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Neeshave has traditional use as anti-asthmatic, antipyretic, antiviral, and in respiratory diseases (Krishnaraju et al., 2005). Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.f.) Lindau contains plenty of valuable bioactive compounds, flavonoids, glycosides, glycoglycerolipids, cerebrosides, and monoacylmonogalatosylgycerol. These compounds have a wide range of anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant activities (Alam et al., 2016). Justicia adhatoda L. has been used traditionally for fever, asthma, rheumatism, chest diseases, pneumonia, as an expectorant, tuberculosis, antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic, and to reduce swelling. Justicia tranquebariensis L.f. has been used for poisonous bites (Jan et al., 2008). The Ruellia genus in the Acanthaceae family has anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antipyretic, and antiulcer properties. Rullia brittoniana L. is studied for its inflammatory and antioxidant effects (Afzal et al., 2015). Leaf infusion of Justicia L.  is used to cure glandular tumours, diarrhea, and dysentery, also used in herbal drugs against cancer and tuberculosis and possessed anti-helmintc properties. Leaves of Justicia adhatoda L. are used in a variety of diseases and disorders, particularly for fever, respiratory tract ailments like chronic bronchitis, asthma, swelling, pneumonia, tuberculosis, malaria, cold, and cough (Ayyanar & Ignacimuthu, 2008; Sharma et al., 2008). Strobilanthes urticifolia Wall. ex. Kuntze.is used in antiulcer, laxative, stomach ailments, rheumatism, and as a diuretic agent (Anderson, 1986).  

Taxonomic Overview of Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br.

Scientific classification:

Common Name: Dashmuli

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Lamiales

Family: Acanthaceae

Genus: Eranthemum

Species: Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br.

 

 

Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br. is a shrub reaching a height of about 1 m. Leaves are oblong-lanceolate, 12-18 × 4-7 cm long, acuminate, with lineolate on both surfaces, entire or obscurely crenulate, tapering at the base. Flowers are arranged in sub-interrupted, lax, axillary or terminal spikes, which turn rose color afterwards; the peduncles are quadrangular; bracts are obovate and obtuse, white with green hairs; bracteoles are narrowly linear, acute, and densely clothed on the back, ciliate with white, long hairs. Calyx is scarious and pubescent; lobes are lanceolate and acute with a strong midrib. Corolla is 2.5-4 cm long, blue in color, with a slender tube; up to 1 cm long lobes, oblong-obovate, rounded, or truncate at the tip, with exserted stamens. Capsules are around 1.5 cm long, glabrous and pointed; seeds are 3-4 mm, hygroscopically hairy, compressed. Fruiting and flowering occur from October to December.

Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br. is commonly found in moist wastelands and deciduous forests of Saurashtra, central, and south Gujarat. This shrub has been examined in various areas of Gujarat, as noted in the Flora of Gujarat. It was examined in Valsad (Pungarbari), Vadodara (Neemwada, Songadh, Rang), Dang (Subir), Panchmahal (Jambhughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Nani Raski), Junagadh (Girnar Forest), and Godhra.

Ethnomedicinal and Traditional Uses

The Acanthaceae family, to which Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br. belongs, has a strong history in traditional medicinal systems across Asia. Various parts of Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br. (leaves, roots, and other parts) are used to treat specific diseases. Bhil and its Subtribes, Dhangar, Bhila, and tribes of the Western Ghats use the root for ulcer, anti-inflammatory, stomach ache, malaria, typhoid, control diabetes, hyperacidity, and scabies (Ahirrao et al., 2007; Kamble et al., 2008; Patil, 2016; Pullaiah et al., 2017; Samvatsar et al., 2004; Santosh Kumar et al., 2019; Yp et al., 2021).  The Pawar tribe uses roots to reduce body heat (Jagtap et al., 2008). The Palghar tribes use flowers for menstrual disorders, and the tribes of the Khandesh region use leaves for liver disorders (Chalil & Shinde, 2022; Chandel et al., 2018; V. Girase & L. Jadhav, 2020). Tribes of Baiga, Dhamtari, and Ratnagiri districts use roots for the treatment of Loeucorrhea, also to promote fetal growth during pregnancy and safe delivery, and to treat wounds (Ghalme, 2020; Sahoo & Pradhan, 2021). Tribes of Korku, Silvassa, and Mahur taluka use roots to cure vertigo, jaundice, reduce burning sensation, and treat cracks in the feet (Gorat et al., 2021; Jagtap et al., 2008; Kanthale & Biradar, 2012).

Taxonomic Overview of Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalzell

Scientific classification:

Common Name: Ganthera or Gantharo

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Streptophyta

Class: Equisetopsida

Order: Lamiales

Family: Acanthaceae

Genus: Neuracanthus

Species: Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalzell.

 

 

Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalzell is a perennial, erect herb about 70 cm high; the stems are erect, numerous from a perennial root, simple, obtusely quadrangular, scabrous-pubescent. Leaves are elliptic-oblong 5.5-10 × 3.5-6, which are obtuse or shortly acuminate at the apex, and subcordate or truncate at the base; hispid on veins, subsessile. Flowers are present axially, with silky hairy, congested, sessile spikes borne in opposite axils; their purplish-colored bracts are 5-7 veined. Calyx is 2-lipped; the upper lip is divided into 3 lobes, and the lobes are lanceolate and ciliated; the lower lip is divided almost to the base. Corolla is 1.25 cm long; tube whitish; with blue-colored limb. Capsules are ovoid and glabrous, about 1.25 × 0.5 cm, and are attenuate at the base; their seeds are compressed and orbicular, silky. Flowering and fruiting are seen from August to June.  

Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalzell is primarily found in dry-deciduous forests throughout Gujarat. This herb has been examined in various areas of Gujarat, as noted in the Flora of Gujarat (Meena et al., 2025). It was examined in Junagadh, Gir Forest; Sabarkantha, Dharod; Panchmahal, Jambhughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Sagva forest, Panch mahudi; Amreli, Dhari range; Mehsana, Dharoi dam; Bharuch, Piplod; Bhavnagar, Mithivirdi near the seashore; Kachchh, Sudasha hills, Dang, Jharan forest, Subir-Lauchali and Narmada Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Junaraj forest.

Ethnomedicinal and Traditional Uses

Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalzell has traditionally been used as a medicine for the treatment of asthma, in various oral formulations, and for skin diseases and cough (DK & NJ, 2021). Ash of the whole plant is mixed with honey or jaggery and given orally 2-3 times a day to cure asthma and cough (Punjani & Kumar, 2002). Root used to treat skin ailments such as ringworm (Phate et al., 2026).

Table 5: Comparative phytochemical constituents of Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br. and Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalzell based on plant parts and available literature. (Absent = not reported in literature to date)

FUTURE PERSPECTIVES AND RESEARCH GAPS

Even though Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br. and Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalzell have notable ethnomedical and pharmacological evidence, both species remain largely unexplored, with several important research gaps that need to be addressed immediately. Future research must use advanced analytical methods such as LC-MS/MS, HPLC-DADA, and NMR spectroscopy to systematically isolate and structurally characterize the bioactive compounds responsible for their observed biological activities, as the phytochemical characterization of both plants remains largely lacking. Future research will need to use receptor binding assays, molecular docking, and network pharmacology techniques because current pharmacological studies, which are mostly restricted to simple in vitro screening and have almost no mechanistic information on molecular targets and signalling pathways, especially for antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities. Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalzell, in particular, is significantly under-researched, with no isolated pure bioactive compounds identified, no available anticancer data, and no toxicological assessments documented thus far, making it a crucial candidate for focused investigation. The successful creation of Ag-ZnO nanocomposites using Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br. extracts additionally unveils an exciting opportunity in green nanotechnology for both species, particularly in targeted drug delivery and antimicrobial material development. Moreover, there is currently no comparative pharmacological study conducted for these two Acanthaceae species under the same experimental conditions, and comprehensive toxicological assessments following OECD guidelines, along with an evaluation of the conservation status for both species, represent an urgent and unmet scientific necessity.

CONCLUSION

Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br. and Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalzell are pharmaceutically important members of the family Acanthaceae, with significant potential for pharmaceutical development and therapeutic applications. Eranthemum roseum (Vahl) R. Br. has demonstrated validated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti-proliferative, haemolytic, and antimicrobial activities through rigorous scientific investigation, while Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalzell demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-asthmatic activities; in comparison, both species carry promising career value in pharmaceuticals. Both species require extensive phytochemical characterization and systematic pharmacological evaluation to fully establish their medicinal potential. The traditional uses of these plants in folk medicine systems, together with the well-documented bioactivities of related Acanthaceae family members, provide a compelling rationale for intensive research in these species.  Members of the family demonstrate antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, anticancer, and antiulcer properties, and may have more active compounds that hold a rich value of bioactive pharmacological activity. Future investigations should prioritize comprehensive phytochemical profiling, systematic pharmacological screening, mode-of-action studies, toxicity evaluation, and clinical validation to establish a scientific foundation for potential therapeutic development. Integrating ethnobotanical knowledge with modern research methods offers promising opportunities to discover novel bioactive compounds and develop effective plant-based therapies from members of this important Acanthaceae family. Furthermore, conservation efforts and sustainable farming practices should be implemented to ensure the long-term availability of these medicinal plant resources for future research and therapeutic uses.

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