Metabolites composition and therapeutic potential of rhizophoraceae mangroves in Asia: a review

Rhizophoraceae, a family of halophytic plants that dominates mangrove ecosystems along coastlines, is known for its long-standing use in traditional medicine across Asia. The therapeutic values of this family arise from the diverse metabolites, such as alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, and tannins, which exhibit a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-diabetes, anticancer, hepatoprotection, and neuroprotection. This review aims to provide an updated overview of metabolite profiling and therapeutic applications of Rhizophoraceae mangroves in Asia, offering new insight into their potential for drug discovery and development of mangrove-derived natural products for human and livestock health management. Comprehensive literature searches up to 2025 were conducted across major scientific databases, focusing on Rhizophoraceae species, their biochemical composition, and associated bioactivities. Findings indicate that research within this family remains unevenly distributed, with most studies concentrating on a limited number of species, leaving many others unexplored. Nevertheless, Rhizophoraceae continues to represent a significant natural resource for drug discovery and development and the advancement of phytopharmaceutical applications.