Cryptocarya genus: Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses, and Pharmacological Properties

Medicinal plants are claimed to be a safer and more powerful treatment option for many ailments. Plants of the genus Cryptocarya, which biosynthesize numerous bioactive compounds, majorly flavonoids, pyrones, alkaloids, coumarins, and terpenoids, have demonstrated a variety of health benefits, including antimalarial, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antituberculosis, and anti-inflammation properties. Due to the significant applications in traditional medicine of several communities and secondary metabolites already isolated, this study presents the ethnopharmacological, phytochemical and therapeutic potential of species of the genus Cryptocaria. A total of 177 new bioactive compounds with diverse chemical structures have been reported from the genus. The data set revealed that the genus Cryptocarya is a source of cytotoxic substances, which have the potential to be used in the treatment of diseases resulting from cellular mutations. Further phytochemical and biological assessments may lead to the development of new pharmacologically active compounds.