From Fruit to Pharmacy: A Comprehensive Review on Grewia asiatica for its Current Knowledge and Future Prospectives.

Abstract

Grewia asiatica Linn. (Phalsa) is an overlooked fruit shrub, treasured in Southern Asia for its nutritional and therapeutic properties. Over a decade of years, the plant seeks scientific attention, highlighting the plant’s potential in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and food industries. This study consolidates current knowledge on botany, pharmacognostical compositions, pharmacological and traditional applications of Grewia asiatica. All the research data on Grewia asiatica was gathered using PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Springer, Taylor & Francis, and Web of Science database. Review revealed the presence of flavonoid, anthocyanin, and various phenols as major bioactive components of various parts of the plant. Traditionally various parts of plant have been used in Unani, Ayurveda, and folk medicines for curing pyrexia, gastrointestinal tract  and respiratory disorders, dermatitis, and hypovolemia. The core of the review focuses on the Pharmacological evaluation reveals by the scientific research  such as strong antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antiemetic, radioprotective, anticancer, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective,  etc. in both in vivo and in-vitro. Additionally, phalsa shows optimistic capability in reducing oxidative stress and related disorders, due to the presence of high phenolic content.  Despite these promising findings, gaps remain regarding standardized extracts, clinical validations, limited safety data, and molecular- level investigation of the mechanism of action. This review emphasizes the need for advanced toxicological and pharmacological assessment for the development of phytopharmaceuticals.