Health-promoting properties of Corchorus leaves: A review

• Published in: Journal of herbal medicine Vol. 15; p. 100240
• Main Authors: Kumari, Neetu, Choudhary, Shashi Bhushan, Sharma, Hariom Kumar, Singh, Binay Kumar, Kumar, Arroju Anil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier GmbH 01-03-2019
• Subjects: Antioxidant; Corchorus; Prophylactic; Therapeutic; Toxicology; Therapeutic; Toxicology; Corchorus; Antioxidant; Prophylactic
• ISSN: 2210-8033
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2018.10.005

•Leaves of genus Corchorus traditionally used as folk medicines. But, comprehensive health promoting information about the genus is lacking.•The genus is rich in therapeutic and prophylactic biomolecules.•Corchorus can be effectively employed in community disease management through commodification of leaf.
The genus Corchorus is commercially known for its phloem fibre. Moreover, the tender leaves of Corchorus have also long been recognized by Asian and African folk medicine practitioners to manage pain, fever, dysentery, sexual disorders and degenerative diseases. Given the significant medicinal properties attributed to the genus, the authors performed a thorough literature review to investigate the biological roles and toxicological limits of the active principles of the leaves of Corchorus. The study revealed that the genus Corchorus is rich in bioactive molecules such as glycosides, polysaccharides, triterpenes, ionones, phenolics, sterols, and fatty acids. These biomolecules, which are part of a large and varied group of chemical compounds, impart a range of prophylactic and therapeutic applications to the genus. Growing clinical evidence also supports the traditional uses of Corchorus as folk medicine. Given the immense genetic diversity, geographical adoptability and biological effects on human health, the genus Corchorus can serve as a potential herbal drug-source for enhancing community health standards and livelihood security of the rural population of Asia and Africa.