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Review
. 2021 Nov 22:2021:1794621.
doi: 10.1155/2021/1794621. eCollection 2021.

An Insight into Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Nutritional Properties of Arbutus unedo L. from Morocco

Mohammed El Haouari  1   2 , Najat Assem  2 , Sushil Changan  3 , Manoj Kumar  4 , Sevgi Durna Daştan  5   6 , Jovana Rajkovic  7 , Yasaman Taheri  8 , Javad Sharifi-Rad  9   10
Affiliations
Review

An Insight into Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Nutritional Properties of Arbutus unedo L. from Morocco

Mohammed El Haouari et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. .

Abstract

Arbutus unedo L. (Ericaceae) is an evergreen shrub widely distributed in the Mediterranean region, particularly through the Moroccan forests. It is an important medicinal plant of great scientific interest due to its nutritional, pharmacological, and chemical properties. The objective of this review is to provide insights into traditional medicinal uses and phytochemical and pharmacological properties of A. unedo from Morocco. In Morocco, the plant has been used as a traditional medicine to treat several pathological conditions. Many phytochemical compounds have been reported in the plant, of which vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, and their derivatives are the most prevalent. Leaves and fruits of A. unedo contain the most significant number of phytochemicals among the species. Furthermore, researchers have demonstrated that A. unedo exhibited antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antiaggregant, and antihypertensive activities due to the presence of many biochemical compounds with health-promoting properties. According to different toxicity tests, the use of A. unedo is devoid of any significant side effects and/or toxicity. Despite its nutraceutical and health-promoting properties, Moroccan A. unedo remains underexploited mainly, and most of its traditional uses have not yet undergone scientific evidence-based research; therefore, improved knowledge about the potential value of the plant would allow understanding of its biological activity based on its phytochemical compounds that may contribute to the species preservation and valorization.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Approximate distribution of Arbutus unedo L. throughout Morocco.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The whole plant (a) and flowers (b) of Arbutus unedo L.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Structure of various bioactive compounds present in leaves, roots, and fruits of strawberry trees.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Chemical structure of catechin isolated from A. unedo roots [50].
Figure 5
Figure 5
Representation of some pharmacological activities of Arbutus unedo L.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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