A REVIEW ON THESPSEIA POPULNEA

Thespesia populnea, commonly known as Hibiscus populnea, belongs to theMalvaceae family. It is an evergreen tree with alternate, simple leaves andpetioles 5–10 cm in length. This large tree is native to tropical regions andcoastal forests of India and is also cultivated in gardens. Currently, it hasbecome naturalized in tropical climates worldwide, from the Caribbean toAfrica. Thespesia populnea is particularly valuable as a coastal windbreakdue to its resistance to wind and salt spray, thriving in sandy, saline soils.Among its various phytoconstituents, sesquiterpenes and phenoliccompounds are the primary bioactive compounds. Experimental studies haveshown 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 coversthe taxonomy, synonyms, vernacular names, distribution, ethnomedical uses,phytochemicals, and pharmacological activities of Thespesia populnea.