Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
A review of the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Mikania micrantha Kunth.: an Asian invasive weed
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Sahariah Gunjan, Dutta Koushik Nandan, Gam Sameeran, Talukdar Shibanee, Boro Deepakshi, Deka Kangkan, Siangshai Sanduwinaki, Bora Nilutpal Sharma, Dutta Koushik Nandan, Gam Sameeran
Review Articles | Published: 19 September, 2025
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Keywords: n Mikania micrantha Kunth., Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological activities
Abstract
This systematic review provides an overview of Mikania micrantha’s ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical profile, and pharmacological activities, focusing on literature from 2014 to 2025. Although considered an aggressive invasive weed, M. micrantha has been traditionally used across Asia for skin infections, wounds, gastrointestinal disorders, and inflammatory conditions. Phytochemical analyses have identified five phenolic compounds, four flavonoids, one alkaloid, and sixty-one terpenes and terpene derivatives, including bioactive sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids. Reported pharmacological activities from in vitro and in vivo studies include antioxidant [IC₅₀ = 16–60 µg/mL], wound-healing (> 90% closure in diabetic rat models), cytotoxic [IC₅₀ = 8.9–27.4 µM], antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anthelmintic, thrombolytic, and analgesic effects. Methanolic extracts have enhanced fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, and granulation tissue formation via focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, while enzyme inhibition assays have shown suppression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. These findings validate several ethnomedicinal claims and highlight potential applications in developing therapeutics for metabolic, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. Primary sources included peer-reviewed articles retrieved from Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Wiley Online Library, with The Plant List and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023 used for taxonomic verification. This review consolidates existing knowledge on the ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry of M. micrantha, offering insights for future research. Further studies are needed to confirm therapeutic efficacy, assess safety, and explore sustainable utilization of this medicinally valuable yet ecologically challenging species.
Graphical abstract
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Author Information
Department of Pharmacognosy, NETES Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, NEMCARE Group of Institutions, Mirza, India