Introduction: Traditional medicine has long utilized Commelina benghalensis L., a perennial herb of the Commelinaceae family, to treat leprosy, burns, sore throats, and inflammation. Its phytochemicals—alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, sterols, saponins, and phenols—are of interest to modern pharmacologists. Recent studies suggest it may possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. Methods: A thorough literature search was conducted using “PubMed,” “Google Scholar,” and “Embase,” with keywords such as Commelina benghalensis, phytoconstituents, pharmacological, and therapeutic. More than half of the studies reviewed were published within the last decade, ensuring coverage of the plant's recent phytochemical and pharmacological advances. Relevant investigations regarding its phytochemistry and bioactivities were rigorously evaluated. Results: Evidence indicates that C. benghalensis contains a variety of bioactive compounds, including 11 classes of alkaloids, 7 classes of flavonoids, and other secondary metabolites. These compounds contribute to its pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, larvicidal, and fertility-enhancing effects. Its antioxidant capacity is particularly noteworthy, with implications for alleviating oxidative stress in disease management and medicinal formulations. Discussion: While strong evidence supports its multi-therapeutic properties, current research lacks detailed mechanistic insights and large-scale validations. Further focus is needed on extract standardization, dose determination, and toxicity evaluations. Conclusion: Commelina benghalensis demonstrates significant pharmacological potential, especially due to its antioxidant constituents. Additional rigorously designed in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies are required to confirm its therapeutic benefits and enable translational applications in modern medicine.
Saha et al. (Wed,) studied this question.