Table 1.
List of selected plants demonstrating immunomodulation activity, source countries, parts used, their bioactive chemical constituents and other reported activities.
| Plant name (family) | Native country | Part used | Bioactive constituents | Other reported activities | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (A) Plants having polysachharides as major bioactive constituent | |||||
| Echinacea purpurea L. (Asteraceae) | United States and Europe | Aerial part and roots | Polysaccharides, Alkamides, caffeic acid derivatives and lipoproteins | Wounds, toothaches, respiratory infections, colds, sore throat, cough and burns | 8 |
| Lycium barbarum (Solanaceae) | China, Asia, Europe | Fruits, roots, leaves | Polysaccharides, glucosylated precursor, scopoletin, carotenoids, flavanoids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals | Antioxidant, antiaging, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, cardioprotective | 99 |
| Ganoderma lucidum (Ganodermataceae) | China, Japan, Korea | Fruits | Polysaccharides (β-D-glucans), ganodermasides, triterpenoids, sterols, steroids, proteins and fatty acids | Antitumor, anti- ageing, antioxidant, neuroprotection, treatment of chronic hepatitis, ulcers, chronic bronchitis etc. | 105 |
| Agaricus blazei Murrill (Agaricaceae) | Brazil | Fruits, mycelium | Polysaccharides, sterol, ergosterol, potassium | Antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. | 109 |
| Clerodendrum splendens (Lamiaceae) | Western Africa | Leaves, bark, flowers | Polysaccharides, arabinogalactan, terpenoids, flavanoids, volatile oils, cyanogenic glycosides, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols | Treatment of malaria, coughs, venereal infections including gonorrhea and syphilis, skin diseases, ulcers, asthma, and uterine fibroid | 118 |
| Achyranthes bidentata (Amaranthaceae) | India, China Japan, Nepal | Aerial parts, roots | Polysaccharides, saponins | Anti-malarial, diuretic, antiviral, toothache | 129, 132; |
| Morinda citrifolia L (Rubiaceae) | Southeast Asia, Australasia | Fruit, stem, leaves, roots rhizomes | Carbohydrates dietary fibers, minerals, vitamins, lignin, catechin, polysaccharides, flavanoids, alkaloids, | Skincare, anti-asthma, anti-diabetic, anticancer, immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anti-infective | 138 |
| Nymphaea rubra Roxb (Nymphaeaceae) | India, Australia, Africa America | Rhizome, leaves, flower, peduncle | Polysaccharides, proteins | Cough, piles, diarrhea | 161, 162 |
| Dimocarpus longan (Sapindaceae) | Asia, China, Thailand | Fruit | Polysaccharides, proteins | Improves immunity, antioxidant | 164, 165 |
| Abrus cantoniensis (Fabaceae) | China | Aerial parts | Polysaccharides, Polyphenols | Anti-tumor activity, wound healing | 177, 178 |
| Rhizoma gastrodiae (Orchidaceae) | China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea | Rhizome | Polysaccharides, Polyphenols | Headache, dizziness, liverprotective, paralysis, rheumatism, limbago pain, migraine, anti-spasmodic, joint and nerve disorders, antidepressant | 179, 182 |
| Momordica charantia (Cucurbitaceae) | Asia, Africa, China | Fruit, seeds, roots, leaves, | Polysaccharides, charantins, alkaloids, triterpenoids, phenolic compounds | Anti-diabetes, hypolipidemic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, antiviral, antioxidant | 197 |
| Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Cucurbitaceae) | Asia, China, New guinea, Japan, Korea | Stem, rhizome, fruits | Polysaccharides, Sterols, saponins, flavonoids, gypenoids, | Antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective. | 200, 201 |
| Astragalus membranaceus (Fabaceae) | China, | Leaves, aerial parts | Polysaccharides, flavonoids, minerals, amino acids, triterpenoids, glycosides | Antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, Treat cold and flu allergies | 188, 206 |
| Zizania latifolia (Gramineae) | China, Japan, Korea | Rhizome, stem, leaves, seeds | Polysaccharides, proteins, minerals, and vitamins, flavonoids, saponin, and phytosterol, anthocyanins | Antioxidant, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases | 208 |
| Macrocystis pyrifera (Laminariaceae) | Pacific ocean, Southern ocean, North coast of America | Whole plant | Polysaccharides, Iodine, potassium, | Antiviral, antitumor, immunomodulatory, antioxidant | 190 |
| (B) Plants having alkaloids as major bioactive constituent | |||||
| Dioscorea batatas (Dioscoreaceae) | East Asia, China | Tubers | Dioscorin, diosgenin, mucopolysaccharides, batatasins and glycoproteins | Treatment of asthma, chronic diarrhea, poor appetite, diabetes, emotional instability, inflammation and uncontrollable urination | 8 |
| Berberis vulgaris L. (Berberidaceae) | Europe, Africa, USA, New Zealand | Root and bark | Berberine, berbamine, palmatine | Anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti- diabetic, GIT disorders, cough, acne, tonic | 116 |
| Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. (Euphorbiaceace) | America, Africa, Australia, Asia | Leaves, aerial parts, roots | Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, lignans, sterols, triterpenes, volatile oils | Antioxidant, Cold, flu, anti-infective, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, jaundice, antimalaria, GIT disorders, inflammation | 139 |
| Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) | China, India, Nepal | Leaves, aerial parts | Caffeine, vitamins, tannins, minerals, flavonoids, epicatechins | Antioxidant, diuretic, migraine, headache, anti-obesity, anticancer, diabetes, CNS stimulant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral | 166, 167, 169 |
| Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) | America, Taiwan, India | Root, seeds, leaves, oil, fruits, seedpods, flowers | Alkaloids, vitamins, isothiocyanates, minerals, dietary fiber, poly phenols, saponins | Antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, anti-hypertensive | 210 |
| Hypoxis Hemerocallidea (Hypoxidaceae) | Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe | Aerial parts, whole plant, corms | Alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, | Antiinflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, antiulcer, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral. | 183 |
| (C) Plants having phenols and polyphenols as major bioactive constituent | |||||
| Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. (Rosaceae) | China, Japan, Turkey, Brazil, India, Pakistan, Italy, Spain, Israel | Leaves, fruits | Phenolics, terpenoids, flavonoids, carotenoids, organic acids, vitamins, sugars | Antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic, anti-aging, antiallergic and anti-infective | 106 |
| Curcuma domestica (Zingiberaceae) | Asia, China | Rhizome | Curcumin | Antioxidant, anti-malarial, anti-diabetic, anticancer, anti-infective activities | 11 |
| Chromolaena odorata (L.) (Compositae) | Europe France, Thailand, china | Leaves, seed oil, | Polyphenols, tannins, saponins, sterols, polyterpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids | Wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, antioxidant, analgesic, cytotoxic, antibacterial | 146 |
| Arisaema jacquemontii Blume (Araceae) | Afghanistan, East Asia, France | Tuber, leaves, roots | Phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, sterols, protein, carbohydrates, fat | Cytotoxic, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antieishmanial, protein kinase inhibition, anti-prostate cancer activities | 156 |
| Aronia melanocarpa (Rosaceae) | America, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas | Fruits, leaves | Polyphenols, anthocyanins, flavonoids | Immunity, antioxidant, diabetes, inflammation, | 171–173 |
| Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) | Asia, Hawaii, Europe, Roman, Middle east | Rhizome | Volatile oil, Zingerone, shogaols, gingerols, gingerdione, acetoxy-6-dihydroparadol | Antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective | 234 |
| (D) Plants having sesquipterpene as major bioactive constituent | |||||
| Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae) | China, Asia, North America | Aerial parts | Artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin, artemether, arteether, artesunate, artelinate, caffeic acid, quinic acid, casticin, artesunate, isovitexin, 3-caffeoyquinic acid, rosmarinic acid, arteannuin B | Malaria, inflammation, antioxidant, antibacterial, hepatoprotectant, antihistaminic, anti-HIV bronchitis, cancer, hemorrhoids, autoimmune disorders | 91 |
| Dendrobium nobile (Orchidaceae) | China, India, Bangladesh, Assam, Nepal, Bhutan, Hawaii | Stem, flowers, leaves | Sesqueterpenes, Longifolene, 1-Heptatriacotanol, Z,Z-6,28- Heptatriacotantadien-2-one, Dendroban-12-one, | Antiviral, anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic and antipyretic | 235 |
| (E) Plants having terpenes and tritepenoids as major bioactive constituent | |||||
| Carica papaya Linn. (Caricaceae) | India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam | Seed, leaves, fruit | Saponins, flavanoids, phenols, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids | Antidiabetic, anticancer, antipyretic, antimalarial, dengue fever, beriberi, asthma | 133, 134 |
| Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) | India, Africa, Australia, middle east, | Leaves, bark, fruit, wood, roots, flowers, oil | Nimbidin, nimbini azadirone, azadiractins, salanin, vilasinin, nimbin etc, polyphenolics, flavonoids, coumarins, sulfurous compounds | Anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-ulcer, anti-mutagenic, anticancer, antiviral etc. | 143 |
| Quillaja saponaria (Quillajaceae) | Europe, Brazil, UK, USA, Japan, China | Bark, root, wood | Saponins, quilaic acid, gypsogenin, phytolaccinic acid, | Antidandruff, anti- bacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic, antitumor, hepatoprotective, immunoadjuvant activities | 151 |
| Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (Amaranthaceae) | Northwestern South America, USA, Kenya, India, Europe,Aurtralasia | Seeds, leaves | Saponins, polysaccharides, polyphenols, phytosterols, proteins, vitamins, minerals, fat, flavonoids, | Antiseptic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-apoptotic, antiobesity, neuroprotective, hemolytic, antiviral | 174, 176 |
| Panax quinquefolius (Araliaceae) | USA, Canada, China | Roots, rhizome, leaves | Ginsenosides, protopanaxadiol, protopanaxatriol | Treat dementia, diabetes mellitus, respiratory infections and cancer. | 187 |
| Orthosiphon stamineus (Lamiaceae) | Tropical areas, South Asia | Leaves, aerial parts | Terpenoids, flavonoids, caffeic acid derivatives, essential oil, | Antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotection, antigenotoxic, antiplasmodial, cytotoxic, cardioactive, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory activities. | 191 |
| Ficus aurantiaca Griff (Moraceae) | Singapore | Stem, leaves, fruits, | Triterpenoids, Coumarin, | Headache, wound and toothache | 199 |
| Actaea racemosa (Ranunculaceae) | America, Georgia, Missouri, Aransas | Roots, rhizome | Triterpene glycosides, 27-deoxyactein | Dietary supplement, treatment and management of menstrual and menopausal symptoms | 236 |
| Gymnema sylvestre (Apocynaceae) | Asia, China, Arabian peninsula, Africa, Austratia | Leaves, | Gymnemic acids, triterpenoids saponins, flavonoids, tannins, gymnemanol, gurmarin | Antidiabetic, anti-infective, anti-asthma, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypercholesterolemia, antiviral, cardiovascular diseases | 237 |
| Rapanea melanophloeos (Primulaceae) | South Africa, | Fruits and seeds | Terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, glycoside, tannins, flavonoids | To treat fever, chest disease, cough, antiviral | 238 |
| (F) Plants having flavanoids and isoflavanoids as major bioactive constituent | |||||
| Tinospora crispa (Menispermaceae) | South east Asia, Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia | Stem, seed, | Flavanoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, glycosides lignans, steroids | Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, antimalarial, anticancer | 143 |
| Spatholobus suberectus Dunn (Leguminosae) | China | Aerial parts, wood, stem | Flavonoids, medicarpin, formononetin, isoliquiritigenin | Anti-platelets, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, neuroprotective, anticancer, antioxidant | 148, 149 |
| Radix Astragali (Fabaceae) | China | Root | Calycosin, formononetin and derivatives, ononin | Hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, analgesics and sedative | 150a |
| Hedysarum polybotrys (Leguminosae) | Taiwan, China, Asia | Roots | Flavonoids, triterpenes, coumarins, lignanoids, nitrogen compounds, sterols, carbohydrates and benzofuran | Support immune system, peripheral nerve system, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-aging, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity | 195 |
| (G) Plants having miscellaneous bioactive constituents | |||||
| Lithospermum erythrorhizon (Boraginaceae) | Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea | Roots | Shikonin and its derivatives | Macular eruptions, measles, smallpox, eczema, carbuncles and burns, antioxidant, anti-platelet, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory | 8 |
| Dioscorea membranacea (Dioscoreaceae) | Thailand | Rhizomes | Dioscorealide A, dioscorealide B, dioscoreanone, diosgenin | Anticancer, antiallergic, anti-malarial, anti-AIDS | 114 |
| Allium sativum (Amarylidaceae) | China, Central Asia, Iran, Egypt, | Leaves, bulb, | Organosulfur compound (Diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, allin, allicin etc), saponins, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds | Antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, cardiovascular protective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-obesity, digestive system protective | 215 |
| Emblica officinalis (Euphorbiaceae) | India, China | Fruit | Vitamin C, alkaloids, phenolic compounds and tannins, minerals, amino acids, proteins | Antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, cardioprotective, antimicrobial | 220 |
| Sorghum bicolor (Poaceae) | Africa, Asia, Maxico, Nigeria, USA | Grains, whole plant, leaves | Nutrients | Food, liquor, antioxidant, improves immunity | 239 |
| Pentalinon andrieuxii (Apocynaceae) | West India, America, Mexico, Florida | Roots, leaves | Pentalinonsterol | Immunity, antileishmanial activity against, antiparasitic activity, | 240 |