Erythrina Subumbrans (Hassk) Merr: An Overview

This overview gives a broader knowledge on the morphology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological aspects of Erythrina subumbrans (Fabaceae). Erythrina subumbrans (Fabaceae) is one of the gifted medicinal plants from Western Ghats of India. Traditionally, various parts of Erythrina subumbrans like stem, leaf, root and bark were used to treat various medical conditions like coughs, worms, dysentery, fever, insomnia and to treat spleen afflictions. Several compounds (22) have been isolated from bark, root and stem which were rich in Tannins, flavanone, isoflavone, alkaloids, pterocarpans, steroids, saponins, Triterpenoid and alkyl trans-ferulates. The primary reported constituents includes nine pterocarpans (orientanol B, phaseollin, erythrabyssin II, phaseollidin, erycristagallin, erystagallin A, eryvarin D, erythrabyssin A and erythrabissin I) three isoflavones (scandenone, bidwillon C and wighteone); two 2-arylbenzofurans (bidwillol B and eryvarin L); two steroids (a mixture of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol); two triterpenes (sophoradiol and soyasapogenol B); one coumestan (sigmoidin K); one chromen-4-one (eryvarin X); one chalcone (isobavachalcone) and coniferaldehyde. The crude extract helps to treat various sessional diseases and several other characteristic pharmacological effects like antiplasmodial activity, antimycobacterial activity and cytotoxicity activity. Hence the present article includes the detailed exploration of morphology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological aspects of E. subumbran an attempt to provide a direction for further research.