HIPTAGE BENGHALENSIS: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON ITS ETHANOMEDICINAL USES, PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL

The increasing global reliance on plant-based therapies has strengthened the scientific exploration of medicinal flora. Hiptage benghalensis (L.) Kurz, belonging to the family Malphigiaceae is a perennial liana valued for its significant ethnomedicinal utility across India and Southeast Asia. Traditionally, it has been used to treat inflammation, wounds, respiratory disorders, digestive ailments, and microbial infections. Phytochemical studies reveal the presence of flavonoids, triterpenoids, tannins, lignans, phenolic acids, and essential oils, bioactive molecules linked to wide ranging pharmacological properties. Pharmacological reports highlight potent antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antidiarrheal, wound-healing, and antidiabetic activities. The plant’s leaves, bark, roots, and flowers demonstrate diverse biological effects owing to compounds such as lupeol, quercetin, β-sitosterol, gallic acid, and vanillic acid. This review consolidates botanical characteristics, traditional uses, phytochemical composition, and pharmacological evidence of Hiptage benghalensis, emphasizing its importance for drug discovery and future phytopharmaceutical development.