A Comprehensive Review of the Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Potential of the Genus Saurauia (Actinidiaceae)

Abstract

The genus Saurauia (Actinidiaceae) comprises diverse tropical and subtropical plants distributed across Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific, many of which are traditionally used for treating metabolic, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge on the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Saurauia species, with emphasis on isolated secondary metabolites and extract‐based bioactivity studies. To date, 61 compounds have been reported from the genus, predominantly pentacyclic triterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, sterols, and glycosidic derivatives. Pharmacological investigations have demonstrated a broad spectrum of biological activities, including antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, cytotoxic, immunomodulatory, wound‐healing, hepatoprotective, and chemopreventive effects. Among the studied species, S. vulcani exhibited the most diverse pharmacological profile, particularly in antidiabetic, antioxidant, wound‐healing, antihyperlipidemic, and immunomodulatory models, whereas S. roxburghii showed notable antioxidant, neuropharmacological, analgesic, thrombolytic, and cytotoxic activities. Chemotaxonomic evidence suggests that triterpenoids and flavonoids represent characteristic metabolites within the genus and may contribute significantly to its biological potential. Despite these promising findings, research remains largely extract‐based, with limited compound isolation, mechanistic studies, toxicity evaluation, and clinical validation. Saurauia represents a chemically rich yet underexplored genus with significant potential for future drug discovery targeting chronic and degenerative diseases.