Mussaenda Frondosa (Bellothi): A Comprehensive Review of Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties

Mussaenda frondosa, commonly known as Bellothi, is a medicinal herb of the family Rubiaceae that is found throughout India, Sri Lanka, and other tropical places. This plant has an extensive history of use in traditional medicine for treatment of jaundice, asthma, fever, and skin infection. Mussaenda frondosa is rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and glycosides, which exhibit marked pharmacological activities of antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, hepatoprotective and healing. Phytochemical studies proved to have found the presence of rutin, quercitin, hyperin and other flavonoids which aid in having medicinal importance. The plants leave, roots, sepals and flowers are used extensively in herbal medicine for treating liver ailments and other respiratory and microbial infections. The various herbal extracts of Mussaenda frondosa had been reported to possess hypolipidemic, diuretic and radical scavenging effects which can aid in drug development. This review focuses on the botanical description, traditional uses, pharmacological properties, and phytochemical constituents of Mussaenda frondosa with particular attention to ethnomedicine and prospects for further pharmacological research. In ethnomedicine, M. frondosa is important due to its diverse therapeutic applications which is why it should be scientifically investigated for further development of herbal medicine.