A Review on Genus Saurauia: Chemical Compounds and their Biological Activity

Introduction: Saurauia plant has been widely used to treat a variety of diseases suffered by villagers at various places in the world. These species are widely used traditionally by the community as antidiabetic and digestive problems’ remedy. This paper will present various uses and researches ever carried out by researchers in the world on various types of the genus Saurauia. Methods: The Information was collected from scientific journals, books, and reports. Results: This review summarizes the existing information on several species of Saurauia in relation to their chemical compounds and biological activity. There are some of chemical compounds present and identified in Saurauia, i.e. 3β-hydroxy-Olean-12-en- 28oic acid; 3,19-Dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid; 3-hidroksi, 12(13)-en, 28-oleanolat acid; actinidin; several monoterpene lactones; seven triterpenoids, namely, cis-3-O-p-hydroxycinnamoyl ursolic acid; trans-3-O-p-hydroxycinnamoyl ursolic acid; ursolic acid; oleanolic acid; corosolic acid; maslinic acid; and β-amyrin; and two steroids, stigmasterol; and β-sitosterol. There are several biological activities afforded by Saurauia i.e. antioxidant activity, anti-cholesterol, antidiabetic activity, antihyperlipidemic, analgetic activity, antimicrobial activity, wound-healing activity and immunostimulatory activity.