Review Article
    Pharmacognosy Reviews
    Vol. 18
    Issue 36
    2025
    pp. 101-110
    Open Access

    Current Status and Challenges of Two Overlooked Medicinal Plants Cestrum diurnum and Cestrum nocturnum: A Review

    Shafquat Fakhrah1,2,Chandra Sekhar Mohanty2,Alka Kumari1
    1Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Hasanganj, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA., 2Department of Plant Genetic Resources and Improvement, Division of Plant Genetic Resources and Improvement, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA.
    2Department of Plant Genetic Resources and Improvement, Division of Plant Genetic Resources and Improvement, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA.
    1Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Hasanganj, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA.
    Correspondence:

    *Alka Kumari

    Department of Botany University of Lucknow, Hasanganj, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA.

    kumarialkasanjay@gmail.com

    Copyright:

    2024 Author(s)

    Check for updates
    Published:24/01/2025
    Received: 17/09/2024
    Accepted: 30/10/2024

    Abstract

    Previously, mostpharmaceutical compounds were produced from naturally occurring components in plants. However, many plant species with high therapeutic potential have been overlooked orneglected. In an era of unfavorable climatic and human changes that endanger natural vegetation worldwide, it is critical to find and research these neglected medicinal plants. The genus Cestrum belonging to the family Solanaceae, which includes Cestrum diurnum and Cestrum nocturnum, contains a wide variety of important nutritional, chemical and medicinal properties. Both plants have become popular garden plants, but they also possess therapeutic potential. C. diurnum has been shown to possess antioxidant, hepatoprotective, larvicidal and cardioactive properties, also has potential to make a supplement of vitamin D3, while C. nocturnum has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial and anticancer effects. The distribution, physical traits, ecological preferences and ethnobotanical uses of both plant species are explored in the present review, which demonstrates that C. nocturnum shows significant potential due to its high phytochemical content and extensive ethnobotanical applications. In contrast, C. diurnum, though equally promising, has been less explored. Here, we demonstrate that these neglected medicinal plants can bethe next breakthrough in drug development. We also emphasize the significance of sustainable methods that assure the use and preservation of these rich resources.

    Share on Mobile

    Scan to access on mobile

    Keywords

    Cestrum diurnum
    Cestrum nocturnum
    Distribution
    Diversity
    Ethnobotany
    Medicinal plant
    Phytochemical
    No content available

    Related Articles