A mini review on chemistry and biology of Hamelia Patens (Rubiaceae)

Hamelia patens Jacq. Commonly known as “redhead”, “scarlet”, or “firebush”. belongs to the Madder family (Rubiaceae), different parts (leaves, stem, flower, root, seeds and even whole plant) of Hamelia patens used. It is a perennial bush, and grow in full sun and in shade. It grows to about 6 feet. Neotropical shrub Hamelia patens Jacq has been cultivated as an ornamental in the United States, Great Britain, and South Africa. Hamelia patens have contained pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids: isopteropodine, rumberine, palmirine, maruquine and alkaloid A, B and C, other chemical constituents are apigenin, ephedrine, flavanones, isomaruquine, narirutins, pteropodine, rosmarinic acid, narirutin, seneciophylline, speciophylline, and tannin. In last few decades several Indian scientists and researchers have studied the pharmacological effects of steam distilled, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol & benzene extracts of various parts of Hamelia plant on immune system, reproductive system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, gastric system, urinary system and blood biochemistry.