Impatiens balsamina: An updated review on the ethnobotanical uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activity

Impatiens balsamina is well-documented in “The Plant List” (http://www.theplantlist.org). I. balsamina is an annual herb of the genus Impatiens in the Balsaminaceae family, primarily originating in many Asian countries, comprising China, India, Korea, Indonesia, etc (Chopra et al., 1958; Khare, 2007). I. balsamina is currently extensively grown in gardens as an ornamental plant and has been practiced as a folk medicine for thousands of years to treat diverse ailments, including rheumatism, isthmus, generalized pain, fractures, fingernail inflammation, scurvy, carbuncle, dysentery, bruises, and beriberi, etc (Ishiguro et al., 1992; Jiangsu New Medical College, 2003; Lim et al., 2007; Sakunphueak and Panichayupakaranant, 2012). Meanwhile, I. balsamina is cultivated as a vegetable or as an anti-cancer herb in some areas of China (Su et al., 2012). Besides, the flowers are available in healthy beverages in the form of tea and wine to guard against disease (Imam et al., 2012). According to previous studies, it was found that structurally diverse compounds existed in I. balsamina, such as flavonoids, naphthoquinones, alkaloids, tannins, steroids, saponins, flavonoids, etc. Modern pharmacological studies have disclosed that extracts from different organs of I. balsamina and the isolated chemical components furnished a wide range of biological activities, like antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antipruritic effects (Meenu et al., 2015).

Numerous reports on the biological activities and phytochemistry of the plant have drawn widespread interest in recent years. Notably, Meenu et al., in 2015 reviewed the chemistry and pharmacological properties of I. balsamina. Nevertheless, the review failed to disclose systematically and comprehensively the chemical composition and pharmacological activities of I. balsamina, and the chemical composition was not drawn with a well-defined structure (Meenu et al., 2015). Accordingly, the paper has been designed to thoroughly summarize the ethnobotanical uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activity, and toxicity of I. balsamina, which offers a scientific basis for their in-depth research, application, and development.

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