Phytochemicals in Barringtonia species: Linking their traditional uses as food and medicine with current research

Research is ongoing to develop and discover new medicinal products and new medicinal crops, as evidenced by a rapid increase in the number of scientific publications. Malaysia and the tropical regions are rich in flora and fauna, however, only a limited number of species have been scientifically researched and fully commercialised. This review described an indigenous plant named Barringtonia, which is less researched but nonetheless has great potential to be developed and commercialised as medicinal crops. Barringtonia is a genus belonging to the family of Lecythidaceae. Barringtonia spp. are perennial and evergreen plants with fibrous fruits. Different parts of these plants are widely employed as medicine to treat numerous diseases including gastrointestinal, respiratory, and skin diseases. The entire plant including the leaf, stem, stick, bark, fruit, and root, is utilised in traditional medicine. Although the majority of Barringtonia spp. are underutilised, several are still important particularly to some rural communities, as food or medicine. The current review is intended to comprehensively discuss the ethno-botanical uses of the genus Barringtonia by linking them with current scientific evidence. The review of literature is comprised of mainly the species B. racemosa, B asiatica, B. acutangula, B. edulis, B. procera, and B. novae-hiberniae. Phytochemicals present in these plants, particularly polyphenols and terpenoids, are discussed in detail in relation to their medicinal uses. This review also provides the nutritional benefits of Barringtonia spp. and identifies the needs for future research and development, domestication, and commercialisation of these plants.