The Intellect plant (Celastrus Paniculatus): A Comprehensive Review

Herbal drugs are traditionally used in various parts of the world to cure a number of ailments. One of them is Celastrus paniculatus Willd. is a medicinal plant from the Celastraceae family, widely utilized in traditional Indian practices like Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. It is referred to as the ‘Tree of life’, 'Elixir of life', ‘Intellect plant’, ‘Black oil plant’, and ‘Climbing staff tree’, and is known by local names such as Jyotishmati, Malkangani, Polulavam, Malkathi, or Kangani. This climbing shrub, which sheds its leaves seasonally, originates from South and Southeast Asia and flowers in the spring between March and May. Celastrus paniculatus is a versatile plant, as all its plant parts possess the potential to treat several diseases due to the presence of various phytoconstituents. It contains a rich array of secondary bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, sterols, fatty acids, flavonoids, and sesquiterpenes. These active compounds play a role in its pharmacological properties, which include nootropic effects, anti-Alzheimer, anti-psoriatic, wound healing, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidepressant, antiarthritic, and gastroprotective activities. This review summarizes the evidence-based information on the pharmacological attributes of Celastrus paniculatus, including the bioactive compounds present, morphological aspects, and traditional uses.