Physalis angulata Linn. as a medicinal plant (Review)

Abstract

There are numerous medicinal benefits from herbal plants, with many herbal medicines being used as 'Jamu', 'standardized herbal medicines' and phytopharmaceuticals. Physalis angulata Linn. (P. angulata L.), a plant utilized for both medicinal and food consumption purposes in a number of tropical and subtropical nations, is widely studied for its beneficial properties. The present review summarized the scientific evidence which suggested that P. angulata L. possesses antibacterial, anticancer, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic and antidiabetic properties. Furthermore, the various pharmacological studies that have been conducted utilizing in vivo and in vitro models, as well as the identification of phytochemical components with therapeutic value are described. In addition, the present review explained the solvents and the toxicity tests that were used for the investigation of P. angulata L. The authors aspire that this literature review will provide an overview for researchers regarding the scientific progress of P. angulata L. over the past ten years and the potential areas of future research.

Keywords: Physalis angulata Linn; extraction; in vitro; in vivo; medicinal uses; phytochemical.

Figure 1

The life cycle of Leishmania spp., the causal agents of leishmaniasis are transmitted by the bite of female sandfly. Sandfly injects the infective stage, promastigotes, during blood meals (1). Promastigotes that reach the puncture wound are phagocytized by macrophages (2) and transform into amastigotes (3). Amastigotes multiply in infected cells and affect different tissues, depending in part on the Leishmania species (4). This originates the clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis. Sandfly become infected during blood meals on an infected host when they ingest macrophages infected with amastigotes (5). In the midgut of the sandfly, the parasites differentiate into promastigotes (6), which multiply and migrate to the proboscis (7). Physalis angulata Linn. acts as an anti-leishmania agent by inhibiting promastigotes multiplication in infected humans and inhibiting amastigotes multiplication in healthy host bitten by sandfly.

Figure 2

AA metabolism pathways. Esterified AA on the inner surface of the cell membrane is hydrolyzed to its free form by PLA2, which is in turn further metabolized by COXs and LOXs enzymes to a mediator that includes prostanoids, LTs, 5-HPETE, 5-HETE and LXs. Physalis angulata Linn. inhibits the action of the PLA2, COXs, and Leucotrien B4. AA, arachidonic acid; PLA2, phospholipase A2; COX, cyclooxygenase; LOX, 5-lipoxygenases; LT, leukotrienes; 5-HPETE, 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid; 5-HETE, 5-hydroxyeicosatraenoic axid; LX, lipoxin.

Figure 3

Chemical components of Physalis angulata Linn.

Figure 4

Percentage of Physalis angulata Linn. parts.

Figure 5

Percentage solvent selection.