Ethnopharmacology and therapeutic potential of Anchusa strigosa: a comprehensive review

Ziad Chebaro; Adnan Badran; Marc Maresca; Elias Baydoun; Joelle Edward Mesmar

doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1301154

Ethnopharmacology and therapeutic potential of Anchusa strigosa: a comprehensive review

Front Pharmacol. 2023 Nov 24:14:1301154. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1301154. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Ziad Chebaro¹, Adnan Badran², Marc Maresca³, Elias Baydoun¹, Joelle Edward Mesmar¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
² Department of Nutrition, University of Petra, Amman, Jordan.
³ CNRS, Centrale Marseille, iSm2, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.

Abstract

Anchusa strigosa Banks and Sol. is a rough flowering plant of the Boraginaceae family native to Eastern Mediterranean region that is widely used in traditional herbal medicine, mainly for the treatment of wounds, abdominal pain, and arthritis, to name a few. This article aims to gather knowledge related to the medicinal properties of A. strigosa. Specifically, it summarizes its traditional uses and pharmacological activities in the treatment of various diseases. Moreover, its botanical, ecological, and phytochemical characteristics are also discussed. Research showed that this plant is rich in pyrrolizidine alkaloids, particularly in the leaves. Other bioactive metabolites identified in this plant include flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenes, organic acids, and volatile organic compounds. These phytochemicals are responsible for the reported pharmacological properties of A. strigosa, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, gastric protective, antidiabetic, and pro-wound healing. This warrants further investigation into the molecular mechanism of action behind the observed effects to elucidate its therapeutic potential. Nevertheless, more research on this plant is needed to ensure its efficacy and safety.

Keywords: Anchusa strigosa; herbal medicine; pharmacology; phytochemistry; traditional uses.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by a URB grant from the American University of Beirut to EB and a University of Petra grant to AB.