Crateva religiosa and Allied Species in Traditional Knowledge and Modern Pharmacology: A Review

Crateva religiosa G. Forst. is a highly valued medicinal plant in Ayurvedic tradition and has been extensively investigated for its botanical characteristics, phytochemical composition, and diverse pharmacological properties. Related taxa within the genus such as C. nurvala and C. magna, along with allied species including C. adansonii and C. tapia, are frequently discussed alongside C. religiosa because of their shared ethnomedicinal applications and overlapping chemical classes. The genus exhibits promising effects in managing urolithiasis, cancer, inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders, hepatic and renal dysfunctions, as well as microbial infections, supported by a rich array of secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, phytosterols, and triterpenoids. While lupeol is consistently emphasized across different Crateva species, several studies have also attributed the key pharmacological effects of the genus to flavonoids and phenolics, suggesting a broader chemical basis for its therapeutic benefits. Integrating data from allied taxa strengthens the review by highlighting cross-species consistency in phytochemistry and biological relevance, thereby supporting a unified genus-level perspective. Furthermore, the advances in tissue culture techniques have facilitated efficient micropropagation and conservation of Crateva species, thus providing a valuable foundation for future biological investigations. This review bridges traditional knowledge with modern pharmacological evidence for C. religiosa and its relatives and highlights the need for deeper mechanistic, clinical, and metabolomic studies to fully validate their medicinal potential.