A Review of Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Gardenia coronaria Buch-Ham

Abstract

Gardenia coronaria Buch- Ham is a deciduous tree belonging to the Rubiaceae plant family and is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the Asia and Africa continents. The plant has been valued for a long time in traditional medicine due to its wide range of healing activities. The present review explores its botanical characteristics, phytochemical profile, and pharmacological activities, with a focus on recent experimental findings. It is locally distributed across several districts of Bangladesh, including Chattogram, Sylhet, and Cox’s Bazar, where it is commonly used in folk remedies. Phytochemical analyses have identified a wide array of bioactive compounds across different parts of the plant, including triterpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic acids, and sterols such as benzoic acid, kaempferol, and stigmasterol. These constituents underpin the plant's multifaceted pharmacological profile. Experimentally, G. coronaria has demonstrated significant antidiarrhoeal activity in vivo, with effects comparable to standard drugs like loperamide. The methanolic leaf extract showed strong antibacterial activity against both Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria. and showed noteworthy anti-inflammatory activity by stabilizing biological membranes in comparison to the standard drug aspirin. Antioxidant assays revealed strong radical scavenging potential, particularly in the ethanol extract, with significant IC₅₀ values suggesting high efficacy. Additionally, analgesic tests confirmed dose-dependent pain relief in animal models. Notably, an in vitro thrombolytic study highlighted the plant’s clot-dissolving capability, achieving a clot lysis rate of 49.61% ± 0.866 compared to streptokinase (75.36% ± 0.964), thus indicating a promising role in cardiovascular therapy. These results collectively validate the traditional uses of G. coronaria and emphasize its potential as a source of bioactive compounds for developing natural therapeutic agents.