Leveraging Underutilized Sri Lankan Fruits in the Fight against Autoimmune Disorders

Area of Science:

• Ethnobotany
• Phytochemistry
• Immunology

Background:

• Underutilized plant species offer untapped potential for food security, health, and economic growth.
• Sri Lanka possesses a rich diversity of medicinal plants, including many underutilized species.
• Plant-derived phytochemicals exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, crucial for managing autoimmune diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore underutilized fruit crops from Sri Lanka.
• To investigate their potential application in managing inflammation and autoimmune diseases.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of ethnobotanical and phytochemical studies.
• Analysis of scientific research on plant bioactives and inflammatory pathways (NF-κB, MAPK, JAK/STAT, Nrf-2).

Main Results:

• Numerous phytochemicals from plants demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects.
• These compounds can regulate key inflammatory pathways implicated in autoimmune disorders.
• Underutilized Sri Lankan fruit crops are potential sources of these therapeutic compounds.

Conclusions:

• Underutilized Sri Lankan fruit crops hold significant promise for developing novel anti-inflammatory agents.
• Further research into these species could lead to new strategies for managing autoimmune diseases and improving public health.