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VOL. 11, ISSUE 3 (2026)
The genus Murdannia (Commelinaceae): Diversity, medicinal potential, and future perspectives with emphasis on Murdannia satheeshiana
Authors
Madhumitha S, Vennila S, Saradha M
Abstract
The genus Murdannia Royle (Commelinaceae) comprises
approximately 60 accepted species distributed throughout tropical and
subtropical regions, with tropical Asia, particularly India, representing its
principal centre of diversity. Several species have been traditionally used in
indigenous medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, skin diseases,
respiratory ailments, diabetes, and cancer. In recent years, scientific
investigations have demonstrated that selected Murdannia species possess
diverse phytochemical constituents, including phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids,
glycosides, tannins, steroids, and other bioactive metabolites, which
contribute to their reported antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory,
analgesic, anticancer, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, and antiproliferative
activities. However, these investigations remain restricted to only a limited
number of species, particularly Murdannia loriformis, M. nudiflora,
M. spirata, and M. bracteata, whereas most members of the genus
remain poorly explored. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the
available literature on the taxonomy, diversity, geographic distribution,
ecology, ethnobotanical importance, phytochemical composition, and biological
activities of the genus Murdannia. Particular emphasis is placed on Murdannia
satheeshiana, a narrowly endemic species of the southern Western Ghats of
India, for which current knowledge is largely confined to taxonomic description
and distribution. The absence of information on its phytochemistry,
pharmacological properties, molecular characterization, tissue culture, and
conservation biology highlights significant research gaps. Future multidisciplinary
studies integrating phytochemical profiling, pharmacological validation,
molecular approaches, biotechnology, and conservation strategies are essential
to unlock the medicinal potential of this underexplored genus and to promote
the sustainable utilization and conservation of endemic Murdannia
species.
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Pages:261-265
How to cite this article:
Madhumitha S, Vennila S, Saradha M "The genus <i>Murdannia</i> (Commelinaceae): Diversity, medicinal potential, and future perspectives with emphasis on <i>Murdannia satheeshiana</i>". International Journal of Botany Studies, Vol 11, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 261-265
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