Unveiling the medicinal potential of Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) siebold: From traditional knowledge to mechanistic understanding

Euonymus alatus is an evergreen shrub of the Celastraceae family. It has been used in Asia for more than 2000 years, primarily in China, Japan, and Korea, to treat a variety of ailments including rheumatism, wounds, dysentery, pain, sores, gastrointestinal problems, skin problems, etc., and also kill insects. Web search engines such as PubMed, Science Direct Google Scholar, have been extensively searched using different keywords such as Euonymus alatus, ethnomedicinal, chemicals, etc. Some books and web sites were also included. A total of 51 relevant literature sources were included which met the inclusion criteria. This review aims to provide a botanical description, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and reported mechanisms of action. Plant includes 129 natural chemicals that have a range of biological effects, including hepatoprotective, antitumor, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antitumor properties. The mechanisms of the unstudied phytochemicals should be further investigated since they may serve as a starting point for the development of new herbal medicines.