Anti-inflammatory flavonoids found in medicinal plants of acanthaceae family

Plants of the Acanthaceae family are a broad range of small flowering herbs extensively found in India and other Asian countries. They are known for their potent anti-inflammatory activities, as evidenced by their traditional uses and different studies performed on animal models. This review aims to compile all the anti-inflammatory plants of different species belonging to different genera of the family Acanthaceae, their traditional uses, their potent anti-inflammatory flavonoids and the mechanism of action targeting specific receptors or signalling pathways present in the pathophysiology of inflammation. Literature was explored to obtain detailed information about different plants of the Acanthaceae family and the different bioactive flavonoids present in them. About 40 plants were found distributed all over India, encompassing different flavonoids, mainly from the classes Flavonols and Flavones. Their mechanism of action was elaborately discussed, associated with the normal pathophysiology of inflammation. These anti-inflammatory flavonoids can be isolated and further investigated for therapeutic efficacies and toxicities in various in-vivo models, thus providing an informative reference for more detailed targeted therapy for modern medicines.