A Comprehensive Review on Chemical constituents, Pharmacological activity and Medicinal uses of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng

Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng, popularly known as Indian borage and country borage, is a multifaceted herb widely used in ethnomedicine. In this review, the focus is given on its phytochemistry, pharmacology, plant morphology and traditional medicinal uses. P. amboinicus contains numerous active components including the putative bioactive compounds flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, and its essential oils carvacrol and thymol and has a broad range of biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-convulsant, anxiolytic and anticancer activities. It is used traditionally for a variety of health issues including those related to the respiratory, digestive, cutaneous, and cardiovascular system. The role of the plant in medicine is further underscored by the activity of its essential oil and extracts against pathogenic microbes and inflammatory diseases, which makes it a candidate for natural drug development. In addition, the herbal plant’s value as a nutrition source, ease of cultivation, and function as a novel food will foment its appreciation in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. While promising in terms of therapeutics, more work is needed to discover new bioactive materials, examine the drug-like toxicity, and prepare the necessary biodata for clinical safety. This review highlights the need for looking at P. amboinicus as a cheap sustainable medicine.