Bioactive Compounds and Biological Activities of Arum L.

The genus Arum L. consists of 29 species of tuberous plants occurring in the temperate and Mediterranean parts of the Old World. The range of distribution of the genus expands from the Azores to western China and from Sweden to North Africa. It is a challenge sometimes to distinguish the species. From vegetative characters, arums are in general rather similar in appearance and exhibit a high plasticity. While conforming to the same inflorescence architecture, they display a wide range of discriminant floral characters (type of florets, size, shape, or color). This chapter summarizes the traditional use of Arum species for both food and medicinal purposes, as well as biologically active compounds and pharmacological activities. According to ethnobotanical data, the most frequent traditional medicinal use of several Arum species is to cure hemorrhoids. The storage organs contain carbohydrates, proteins, lectins (carbohydrate-binding proteins), fatty acids, etc., but in general, the genus Arum is poorly studied regarding phytochemicals. Biologically active compounds identified in various parts of Arum species include phenolic compounds, terpenoids, alkaloids, etc. Various extracts from these plants have analgesic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, and anticancer properties, cardiovascular protective effects, and immune-modulating activity. But Arum species contain raphides of non-soluble calcium oxalate and other toxic compounds and should be used with caution. These plants possess high medicinal potential and deserve further scientific research attention. At the same time, appropriate cultivation techniques need to be developed.