Systematic Review of Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Ruellia Tuberosa Linn

Ruellia tuberosa L. is an herb belonging to the family Acanthaceae. Due to the presence of active chemical compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, etc., it cures different ailments such as gonorrhoea, eye diseases, diabetes, and bronchitis. It also attracts many pollinators and has significant economic value. Therefore, the present study highlights its pharmacological, ethnomedicinal, ecological, and economic importance. Keywords: Ruellia, pharmacological uses traditional knowledge, secondary metabolites, Introduction: Since the earliest periods of human history, plants have been utilized for medicinal purposes. They are believed to possess natural healing properties, which makes them valuable in traditional and modern medicine. Pakistan’s flora is particularly abundant in medicinal plants because of its varied climate, diverse soil types, and numerous ecological zones. Surveys indicate that the country is home to approximately 6,000 species of flowering plants, of which around 400 to 600 species have recognized medicinal significance.1 The Ruellia genus, which comprises 250 species, is found in both tropical and temperate regions of both hemispheres. Most people use Ruellia tuberosa for ornamental purposes worldwide. Its origins can be traced back to tropical America and Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, and Java, as well as the tropics of India, Sri Lanka, and Africa (Chothani et al. 2020;5 Sharma et al. 2024). Ruellia tuberosa L. is an herb with tuberous roots. It belongs to the family Acanthaceae. It is 8 commonly known as the Mexican bluebell, a large bellflower. The flowering and fruiting period is from June to February. It is easily identifiable due to its striking funnel-shaped, violet-colored, 5-lobed corolla flower. It primarily inhabits moist and shady areas. It grows near the roadside, in grasslands, cultivated fields, and in xerophiles. It is widely distributed in Southeast Asia. It also attracts many pollinators such as butterflies and insects. Some butterflies, like the lemon pansy (Junonia lemonias) and mangrove buckeye (Junonia genoveva), pollinate R. tuberosa (Harinath et al. 2016.9 Apart from ecological significance, it also holds medicinal value, such as in diabetes, gonorrhea, urinary problems, and analgesics (Pandey and Singh 2018).12 Flowers of R. tuberosa are light bluish-purple due to the presence of the flavonoid pigment of anthocyanin, which is used as a natural dye in industries (Kampeerapappun et al. 2010).10