A Comprehensive Review of Salacia reticulata: Botanical, Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Insights

Salacia reticulata (HIPPOCRATEACEAE) is a large ligneous climber or scandent shrub held by Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands, and south India. It is known as Kothala himbutu/Himbutu wel in Sinhalese and is well-known among natives for its extensive use in diabetes treatment, a chronic condition impacting carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism due to insulin secretion deficiencies, with or without insulin resistance. It is also employed in remedies for various ailments, including asthma, amenorrhea, itching and other skin problems, gonorrhoea, haemorrhoids, swellings, and obesity. Key antidiabetic compounds within S. reticulata are recognized, such as salacinol and kotalanol (from both roots and stems), and mangiferin (root-derived). Additionally, the plant's roots contain diverse chemical constituents like 1,3-diketones, 26-hydroxy-1,3-friedelanedione, 30-hydroxy-20(30) dihydroisoiguesterin, dulcitol, epicatechin, glycosidal tannins, hydroxyferruginol, iguesterin, kotalagenin 16-acetate, lambertic acid, leucopelargonidin, phlobatannin, and triterpenes, collectively contributing to its therapeutic potential. Salacia's antidiabetic effects are considered to stem primarily from its capacity to inhibit intestinal enzymes, specifically α-glucosidase and α-amylase, delaying glucose absorption and enhancing blood sugar control. Furthermore, the Salacia extracts have appeared to be very safe in vivo and in vitro experiments, and human use. The purpose of the current study is to review the botanical, ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, and pharmacological data on Salacia reticulata while assessing the evidence pertaining to in vitro, animal, and human studies for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-oxidant, and anti-hyperlipidaemic effects.