The phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Clinacanthus nutans (Burm. f.) Lindau: current evidence, mechanistic insights, and future therapeutic perspectives

Abstract

Clinacanthus nutans: a member of the Acanthaceae family native to southern China and Southeast Asia, is a traditional medicinal plant widely used for the treatment of inflammation, viral infections, liver diseases, and metabolic disorders. Despite its long ethnomedicinal history, systematic scientific evaluation remains limited. Recent studies have identified more than 130 active metabolites, including triterpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and sulfur-containing glycosides, which exhibit multiple pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory activities. The underlying mechanisms involve multiple targets and signaling pathways, including NF-κB, Nrf2/ARE, AMPK, and apoptosis-related cascades, and clinical applications have included the management of hepatitis, skin infections, rheumatism, and leptospirosis. Safety assessments indicate low acute toxicity, although concerns remain regarding subchronic toxicity and the lack of robust clinical trials. This review systematically examines the botanical characteristics, major chemical metabolites, and pharmacological activities of C. nutans, with particular emphasis on recent research progress, mechanistic insights, and the clinical applications of its active metabolites in multifactorial disease interventions. In conclusion, C. nutans demonstrates significant medicinal potential, and future research priorities should include bioactivity-guided isolation of novel metabolites, validated in vivo mechanistic studies, pharmacokinetic and metabolomic profiling, and the implementation of standardized Phase I/II clinical trials and veterinary evaluations to support its further development and application.