An Overview of Entada phaseoloides: Current Research and Future Prospects

In recent times, focus on plant research and herbal products has increased tremendously in the western world as well as in developed and developing countries. Entada phaseoloides, a well-known creeper widely used therapeutically in the orient and has become increasingly popular as an important medicinal plant. Many studies have been carried out on this medicinal plant and have generated immense data about the morphology, chemical composition, corresponding to biological activity of extracts and isolated secondary metabolites. Biological studies and traditional clinical practice demonstrated that Entada phaseoloides and its bioactive compounds possess various pharmacological properties. The plant has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antiarthritis, antidiabetic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, antimicrobial and molluscidal agent. The present review summarizes current knowledge on morphology, major bioactive(s) constituents and its chemistry, reported medicinal properties, pharmacological actions, folklore uses and the possibility of interactions of the herb with the conventional drugs. Despite this, further investigations are required to explore Entada phaseoloides and to evaluate the different biological activities of either its extracts or the isolated compounds with probable modes of action.