Dracaena trifasciata and Dracaena angolensis: Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Activities, and Mechanistic Insights
- 1Department of Physiology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów Str. 1i, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
Abstract
Dracaena trifasciata and Dracaena angolensis (Asparagaceae) are medicinal plants traditionally used in Africa and Asia for inflammatory disorders, infections and other conditions. This review critically synthesizes current knowledge on their phytochemistry, biological activities, safety, and underlying molecular mechanisms. A structured literature search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed, supplemented by citation tracking. The final evidence synthesis comprised 85 primary studies, with review articles and contextual sources used separately for background and interpretation. Both species contain structurally diverse metabolites, predominantly steroidal saponins, flavonoids, and homoisoflavonoids, together with phenolic acids, terpenoids and other steroidal glycosides. Experimental studies document chemical antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, enzyme-inhibitory and metabolic activities, and in vitro cytotoxic or antiproliferative effects, although evidence strength varies by endpoint and preparation. Mechanistic evidence includes Nrf2/ARE-associated responses, NF-κB-related signalling, apoptosis and cell-cycle regulation, and quorum-sensing-associated virulence effects, whereas several proposed molecular targets remain supported only by computational analyses. Most studies rely on crude or partially characterized extracts, and safety evidence remains limited to a small number of acute and 28-day repeated-dose studies. Bioactivity-guided isolation, compound-level mechanistic validation, pharmacokinetic characterization and more comprehensive toxicological studies are therefore required before translational potential can be established.
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BibTeX
@article{kedzierska2026dracaena,
title = {{Dracaena trifasciata and Dracaena angolensis: Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Activities, and Mechanistic Insights}},
author = {Kinga Kedzierska and Agnieszka Welman-Styk and Grzegorz Adamczuk and Anna Rymuszka},
journal = {Molecules},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/molecules31193520},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/19/3520},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Dracaena trifasciata and Dracaena angolensis: Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Activities, and Mechanistic Insights
AU - Kinga Kedzierska
AU - Agnieszka Welman-Styk
AU - Grzegorz Adamczuk
AU - Anna Rymuszka
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/02
JO - Molecules
DO - 10.3390/molecules31193520
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/19/3520
AB - Dracaena trifasciata and Dracaena angolensis (Asparagaceae) are medicinal plants traditionally used in Africa and Asia for inflammatory disorders, infections and other conditions. This review critically synthesizes current knowledge on their phytochemistry, biological activities, safety, and underlying molecular mechanisms. A structured literature search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed, supplemented by citation tracking. The final evidence synthesis comprised 85 primary studies, with review articles and contextual sources used separately for background and interpretation. Both species contain structurally diverse metabolites, predominantly steroidal saponins, flavonoids, and homoisoflavonoids, together with phenolic acids, terpenoids and other steroidal glycosides. Experimental studies document chemical antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, enzyme-inhibitory and metabolic activities, and in vitro cytotoxic or antiproliferative effects, although evidence strength varies by endpoint and preparation. Mechanistic evidence includes Nrf2/ARE-associated responses, NF-κB-related signalling, apoptosis and cell-cycle regulation, and quorum-sensing-associated virulence effects, whereas several proposed molecular targets remain supported only by computational analyses. Most studies rely on crude or partially characterized extracts, and safety evidence remains limited to a small number of acute and 28-day repeated-dose studies. Bioactivity-guided isolation, compound-level mechanistic validation, pharmacokinetic characterization and more comprehensive toxicological studies are therefore required before translational potential can be established.
SN - 1420-3049
ER -