Physalis minima L.: A comprehensive review on phytochemistry, pharmacology, and food applications

Physalis minima Linn. (Solanaceae) is a widely recognized plant renowned for its diverse medicinal properties and edible applications. Traditionally, this plant has been used to prevent cancer, inflammation, diabetes, Alzheimer's, microbial growth, and leishmaniasis. It is also utilized as a diuretic and laxative. The species has been identified as having various phytoconstituents, including withanolides, flavonoids, fatty acids, and other compounds. Among these, withanolides are the most prevalent and function as the primary bioactive compounds. A total of 221 withanolides (1980-2025) were documented in this review, among which 81 were newly identified from P. minima. Previous research has identified withanolides as key bioactive constituents with notable potential in the management of inflammatory, neuroinflammatory, and cancer-related conditions, largely due to their distinctive steroidal framework and significant biological activities. Despite these promising pharmacological attributes, only a limited number of withanolides have been studied in depth. Most compounds, especially those discovered more recently, remain insufficiently explored with respect to their therapeutic potential. This knowledge gap highlights the need to further investigate compounds isolated from P. minima to better understand their pharmacological effects. We have tried to extensively appraise the data on phytoconstituents identified from this plant and their associated pharmacological activities. Collectively, the findings presented in this review provide a starting point for future research on P. minima, highlighting its promise as a valuable source of bioactive compounds for drug discovery.