Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile of Ixora: a Review

Medicinal herbs used in modern medicine are occupying a very significant place as raw materials for important drugs. India officially recognizes over 3000 plants for their medicinal value. It is generally estimated that over 6000 plants in India are used in traditional, folk and herbal medicine. Traditionally Ixora is found to be useful for many ailments like hepatic disorder, cancer, microbial infection, antioxidant, pain, inflammation, etc. and has been documented for various medicinal properties. The genus Ixora has been reported to possess different classes of compounds mainly triterpenoids (lupeol, urosilic acid, oleanolic acid betunolic acid, amyrins, etc.), aromatic acrid oils, tannins, saponins, carbohydrate, fatty acids, flavanoids (rutin, formononetin, β-sitosterol, quercetin and kaempferol) and sterols. Out of many species of Ixora much research was done on I. coccinea and some part of the work on I. chinensis, I. javanica, I. finlaysoniana, I. parviflora and I. macrothyrsa. The main aim is to provide a comprehensive review on the phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of various species of Ixora. In the present review, efforts are made in addressing its ethnomedicinal uses, chemical constituents and reported pharmacological activities. INTRODUCTION: Herbal medicine is fast emerging treatment as an alternative to available synthetic drugs for treatment of various diseases, possibly due to lower costs and reduced side effects. Various chemical compounds have been isolated from medicinal plants. More than 70% of the developing world’s population now depends on the traditional medicinal system, otherwise known as complementary or alternative systems of medicine 1 . QUICK RESPONSE CODE DOI: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.6(2).567-84 Article can be accessed online on: www.ijpsr.com DOI link: http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.6(2).567-84 Ixora is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. It consists of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs and holds around 500 species with its centre of diversity in Tropical Asia. Ixora also grows commonly in subtropical climates in the United States, such as Florida. The common names are West Indian Jasmine, Rangan, Kheme, Ponna, Chann tanea, Techi, Pan, Santan, Jarum-jarum, Jungle flame, Jungle geranium and many more. They are mostly shrubs and small trees that are part of the under storey plant community in the tropical forest, but some species can become very tall. People of the region have been using Ixora’s for generations, not only for ornamental purposes but more importantly because of their medicinal values. Ixora is a