A Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Clinical Profile of Paederia foetida and P. scandens

Paederia foetida and P. scandens are two important and well explored Paederia species (Rubiaceae). P. foetida, which grows mainly in China, Bangladesh, India and Mauritius, has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, piles, and diarrhea, while P. scandens is used to treat aches, jaundice, dysentery and dyspepsia as a folk medicine in the southern region of China, Vietnam, India and Japan. This review covers the comprehensive knowledge of the traditional medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and clinical studies of P. foetida and P. scandens. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of iridoids, flavonoids, volatile oil, and other metabolites in these two species, which possess versatile bioactivities like antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, antitussive and antitumor activities. An injection developed from P. scandens has been clinically used as an analgesic drug. P. foetida and P. scandens have emerged as a good source of traditional medicines. Available scientific references reveal that the biological properties of these two Paederia species have been evaluated by modem pharmacological studies. However, bioguided isolation of active constituent responsible for the medical uses, as well as study of their structure-activity relationship and mode of actions, is urgently needed.