Article Review: Cordia myxa L.: The Gift of the Nature, A Review

Cordia myxa L. is one of the medical plants that plays an important role in the treatment of many diseases. There are many studies explained that C. myxa can show anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antiparasitic, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. This review was focused on the active compounds and medical effects of C. myxa. The fatty acids contents are particularly high (9.9%). Sodium and potassium constitute the largest mineral proportion (13 ppm and 29 ppm respectively) of the fruit. However, the toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium and copper have not been found in the fruit. This gives an additional significant benefit of the medical uses of the plant. The content of alkaloids, saponin, polyphenols, and comarine were recorded and was relatively high compared to steroids, resins, glycosides, tannins, and gum that found to be in less amounts. When the mucilage was extracted, the alkaloids constitute more than 35%. By using the Folin‐Ciocalteu, C. myxa extracts have a high Phenolic content. The antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria were included in the fruit mucilage extract while the alcoholic extracts have no effect on all bacterial isolates. In addition, the mucilage extract showed anti-parasitic activity when it was tested against Leishmania infantum promastigotes. However, the highest concentration of extract significantly reduced the amounts of lymphocytes. Moreover, ethanolic extracts of C. myxa fruits give rise to leucocyte and lymphocyte count. Future research needs to be done on this kind of herbs which could show high medicinal activity.