Genus Aerides, Coelogyne and Eria: A comprehensive review of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacology

• The Aerides, Coelogyne, and Eria genus have been used in traditional medicine. • >72 phytoconstituents have been reported from all genera. • The genera are rich in phenanthrene, bibenzyl and flavonoids. • Extracts and Phytoconstituents exhibits various pharmacological activity. • In-depth investigation is required to reveal its full therapeutic potential. The Orchidaceae family includes several medicinally important genera, particularly Aerides, Coelogyne , and Eria , which hold a prominent place in Southeast Asian traditional medicine for managing infectious, inflammatory, metabolic, and degenerative diseases. This review systematically compiles existing evidence on the ethnobotanical significance, phytochemical diversity, and pharmacological potential of these species. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, SciFinder, and Google Scholar up to September 2025 using the keywords “ Aerides ,” “ Coelogyne ,” “ Eria ,” “phytochemistry,” “pharmacology,” and “ethnopharmacology.” A total of 112 peer-reviewed studies met the inclusion criteria. Phytochemical analyses identified 71 bioactive metabolites, predominantly phenanthrenes and bibenzyls, followed by flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics, and sterols. Preclinical investigations consistently revealed a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antinociceptive, cytotoxic, osteoprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. Notably, erianin, isolated from Eria species, exhibits strong anticancer activity, while coelogin from Coelogyne species demonstrates osteogenic potential, providing valuable mechanistic insights into their therapeutic actions. Collectively, these findings position Aerides, Coelogyne , and Eria as promising yet underexplored sources of pharmacologically active natural products. However, despite extensive ethnomedicinal evidence supporting their use, comprehensive scientific validation, encompassing mechanistic elucidation, rigorous pharmacological testing, and systematic toxicity studies, is still needed, as clinical evaluations remain absent. This review also identifies key knowledge gaps and proposes future research priorities to support the translational advancement of these orchid genera from traditional use to evidence-based clinical applications.