A REVIEW ON THESPSEIA POPULNEA
*Puneeth Kumar S. L., Dr. T. Balasubramanian, Dr. Suresha B. S. and Ahalyadevi K. H.
Thespesia populnea, commonly known as Hibiscus populnea, belongs to the Malvaceae family. It is an evergreen tree with alternate, simple leaves and petioles 5–10 cm in length. This large tree is native to tropical regions and coastal forests of India and is also cultivated in gardens. Currently, it has become naturalized in tropical climates worldwide, from the Caribbean to Africa. Thespesia populnea is particularly valuable as a coastal windbreak due to its resistance to wind and salt spray, thriving in sandy, saline soils. Among its various phytoconstituents, sesquiterpenes and phenolic compounds are the primary bioactive compounds. Experimental studies have shown that these compounds exhibit significant biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, analgesic, wound-healing, anti- Alzheimer's, anti-ulcer, and anti-psoriasis effects. This review article covers the taxonomy, synonyms, vernacular names, distribution, ethnomedical uses, phytochemicals, and pharmacological activities of Thespesia populnea.
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