Pluchea indica: An updated review of its botany, uses, bioactive compounds and pharmacological properties

Coastal plants are those growing on muddy shores, sandy beaches and rocky promontories. Represented by a wide array of trees, shrubs, vines and epiphytes, they have important ecological and environmental values such as coastal protection and habitats for fauna. Coastal flora are also important food and medicinal plants. Pluchea indica (L.) Less., one of the coastal plants, was chosen for the review since it has been utilized as sources of food and medicine. Its extracts exhibit several pharmacological activities promoting human health benefits. The botany, bioactive compounds and pharmacological properties of P. indica are reviewed for the first time. The pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and other activities, are summarized. To date, there is only a review on the nutrition, health benefits and applications of P. indica leaves. Three other reviews emphasized on the phytochemistry and biological activities of the genus Pluchea Cass. Sources of information procured for this review were from Google Scholar, PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct, J-Stage, JSTOR, PubChem and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). The primary keywords for search are Pluchea indica and the secondary keywords include constituents, antioxidant, cancer, etc.