Potential Therapeutic use of Anredera cordifolia in Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Introduction: Anredera cordifolia is a plant recognized as a non-conventional food plant. In folk medicine, it shows promise, being used in the treatment of skin diseases, diabetes, and hypertension. Objectives: to map the properties of the Anredera cordifolia plant in the therapeutic process of non-communicable chronic diseases. Materials and methods: The study was based on the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. The search was conducted in the Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases in 2022 and updated in 2023. Selection criteria were primary studies, in any language, country of origin, and publication year, conducted with humans, animals, and/or cellular models, in a laboratory context, focusing on the properties of the plant. Selection was performed independently by two reviewers using the Rayyan software. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: In the 27 included articles, the results demonstrated that the plant has positive properties in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, chronic kidney disease, obesity, and cataracts, as well as being beneficial in controlling cholesterol, triglyceride, and uric acid levels. The main therapeutic properties identified were hypoglycemic effect and reduction in serum levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol. The plant also showed beneficial effects on the healing of diabetic wounds, reduction in heart rate, and obesity. Conclusions: Chronic diseases with evidence on the use of the plant include hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, and cataracts. Additionally, the plant has beneficial properties regarding clinical markers such as triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood glucose.