Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland. ex Correa

Thespesia populnea, usually known as the “Portia Tree” (Malvaceae) is widely distributed in the coastal forests and south-eastern areas of India. The plant is medicinally used for the treatment of cutaneous infections and brain and liver disorders. The present chapter summarizes current information related to its botanical characteristics, chemical composition, traditional, as well as current medicinal uses. In in vitro and in vivo animal studies, the sesquiterpene and phenolic compounds of Thespesia populnea exhibit a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, analgesic, wound healing, anti-Alzheimer, antiulcer, as well as antipsoriatic activity. The deelopment of target-specific formulation, particularly of nanoparticles from this species, is an interesting and expanding research area, in view of its potential applications in the eco-friendly development of novel technologies. There seems to be a lack of scientific studies to validate its ethnopharmacological uses.