Ethnobotanical uses, botany, biological and chemical properties of Duranta erecta Linn.

Duranta erecta is a morphologically variable and polymorphic perennial flowering shrub in Verbenaceae family, originally native to Central and South America. D. erecta is used medicinally for a wide variety of ailments including diuretics, antidote to treat itches, infertility, pneumonia, malaria, intestinal worms, abscesses and neuralgic disorder. It exhibits antioxidant, antiparasitic, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities against human pathogens. Active chemical ingredients of the plant include caryoptoside, duraterectoside A, durantoside I, durantoside III, lamiide and two lignans namely (+) 5' methoxy isolariciresinol and (-) 5' methoxy isolariciresinol from methanolic extract of D. erecta. Furthermore, the presences of phyto-molecules such as glycosides, saponins and tannins in D. erecta plant extracts can be used to reduce metal ions to nanoparticles in a single-step green synthesis process. In this review, ethnobotanical uses, biological, and pharmacological properties of D. erecta has been discussed.