Comprehensive Review of Adenanthera pavonina: Botanical Description, Chemical Constituents, and Therapeutic Potential

Adenanthera pavonina L., an important medicinal species within the Leguminosae (Fabaceae) family, is prevalent in tropical areas and has a long history of use in treating various health conditions. This study seeks to deliver a detailed examination of the plant's botanical characteristics, phytochemical composition, and pharmacological effects. A. pavonina is recognized for its wide array of chemical components, which include flavonoids, steroids, tannins, saponins, and triterpenoids. Phytochemical analyses have identified several compounds, such as pavonin, robenetin, butin, ampelopsin, and apigenin, across different plant parts. The leaves are noted for containing octacosanol, dulcitol, beta-sitosterol glucosides, flavones, and stigmasterol, while the bark is rich in stigmasterol glycosides, butein, chalcone, and saponins. The seeds are particularly abundant in non-protein amino acids and polysaccharides. Pharmacological research has confirmed the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, antifungal, anthelmintic, and antidiarrheal properties of extracts from A. pavonina. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects are linked to the inhibition of vascular permeability and a decrease in writhing responses. Additionally, the extracts exhibit notable antibacterial and antioxidant activities. A. pavonina extracts have demonstrated significant hypoglycemic effects and protective benefits for the kidneys in diabetic rat models. Antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic effects have been recorded in normotensive and dyslipidemic rats, respectively. Moreover, the plant shows antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, anthelmintic effects in crude bark extracts, and potential antidiarrheal effects in models induced by castor oil and magnesium sulfate. These results underscore the therapeutic promise of A. pavonina and its phytochemical constituents, highlighting the need for further investigation into its clinical applications and the development of innovative phytomedicines.