Phytoconstituents to Pharmacology: Mapping the Medicinal Landscape of Abelmoschus Esculentus

Abstract

Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench is also called as okra or lady's finger and is an important food and medicinal plant which is widely used in tropical and sub-tropical countries. In addition to its nutritional benefits, the plant also has a variety of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, polysaccharides, mucilage, phytosterols, tannins, carotenoids, and other secondary metabolites. The current review compiles the botanical features, ethnomedicinal significance, nutritional profile, phytochemical composition, pharmacological activity and molecular mechanisms of A. esculentus. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, anti-obesity, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, gastroprotective, antimicrobial, anticancer, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, and wound-healing properties have been suggested in the preclinical studies. The effects seem to be multifaceted and involve a variety of interconnected mechanisms such as regulation of oxidative stress, NF-κB-mediated inflammation, inflammatory cytokines, insulin signalling, AMPK-associated metabolic pathways, lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, apoptosis, and gut microbiota-related mechanisms. Gastrointestinal protection, metabolic regulation and the potential prebiotic effect are other roles of polysaccharides and mucilage. Though there are some encouraging experimental results, clinical translation is hampered by plant variability in extraction, phytochemical content, dosing, and a lack of pharmacokinetic and human studies. Standardized extracts, identification of marker compounds, mechanistic validation, bioavailability studies, safety studies and clinical trials, should therefore be the focus of future investigations. In conclusion, A. esculentus is a promising functional food and phytopharmacological source that can be utilized in the development of nutraceuticals and therapeutic agents.