Bridging Ethnomedicine and Evidence: A Systematic Review of the Anticonvulsant and Pharmacological Effects of Waltheria indica L.

The world’s leading source of raw materials for creating pharmaceutical medications that are safer, more effective, and more reasonably priced is medicinal plants. As a result of this expanding interest, more studies are being done on plants that may have therapeutic uses. A member of the Malvaceae family, Waltheria indica L. (syn. Waltheria americana) is indigenous to Tropical and Subtropical regions of the Americas and is used extensively in traditional medicine in South America, Hawaii, and Africa. Many parts of the plant are used to cure conditions like epilepsy, wounds, abscesses, conjunctivitis, discomfort, inflammation, convulsions, diarrhoea, and dysentery. This review focuses on the anticonvulsant potential of Waltheria indica, summarizing its phytochemical constituents, pharmacological properties, and toxicological data. Information was sourced from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and others. From around 100 reviewed articles, 50 were selected based on relevance and publication date, with 85% published between 2015 and 2024. Findings revealed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticonvulsant effects across various plant parts. The LD₅₀ values in rodents ranged from 300 to 5000 mg/kg, indicating a favorable safety profile, though high doses caused hepatotoxicity. Flavonoids, alkaloids, and saponins, especially phenolics, were identified as key anticonvulsant agents. Waltheria indica contains multiple bioactive compounds with promising therapeutic potential, particularly as an anticonvulsant. Further pharmacological and mechanistic studies are recommended.