The potential and outgoing trends in traditional, phytochemical, economical, and ethnopharmacological importance of family Onagraceae: A comprehensive review.

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance The Onagraceae is a widely distributed family of flowering plants comprises about 17 genera and more than 650 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees. Onagraceae also common as willowherb family or evening primrose family is divided into two subfamilies; Ludwigioideae (mainly genus; Ludwigia) and Onagroideae. Family Onagraceae is characterized by its numerous traditional uses as treatment of hormonal imbalances, urinary system ailments, prostate health maintenance, and antimicrobial effects. Aim of the study This review aims to introduce a holistic overview on the phytochemical composition, economical importance and ethnopharmacological value of different species of family Onagraceae. Materials and methods Literature review was performed using different data bases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Reaxys searching for articles focused on phytochemical composition, bioactivity and ethnopharmacological history of Onagraceae species. Results Different species of Onagraceae were reported to have a great variety of phytochemicals including flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids, triterpenoids, saponins, and volatile/fixed oils. Onagraceae exhibited several health benefits and pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic and analgesic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial. Conclusions Family Onagraceae is an extremely important family with diverse phytochemical composition which enriches their pharmacological importance and hence it's commercial and economical value.