Phytochemistry and Bioactive Potential of Acronychia Pedunculata: A Comprehensive Review

Acronychia pedunculata (Rutaceae) is a tropical plant widely distributed in Southeast Asia and has been traditionally used for medicinal and nutritional purposes. Phytochemical investigations reveal a diverse array of bioactive compounds, including acetophenone monomers and dimers, prenylated flavonoids, meroterpenoids, arylketones, alkaloids, sterols, lignans, and tocopherols, which are distributed across leaves, stems, roots, bark, flowers, and fruits. These compounds exhibit multiple biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, neuroprotective, and enzyme inhibitory effects. Notably, compounds such as evolitrine, acrovestone, acronynoid B, and acetophenone dimers demonstrate potent cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines and neuroprotective activity via modulation of apoptosis-related pathways (e.g., caspases, Bcl-2, and Akt/FoxO3a). Essential oils from the plant, particularly those derived from the bark, exhibit applications in food preservation, fermentation inhibition, and mosquito repellency. Due to the scattered nature of these studies and the diversity of bioactive compounds, this review aims to comprehensively summarize the phytochemistry, biological activities, and potential applications of A. pedunculata. Despite promising activities, studies on nutritional composition, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and standardization remain limited, highlighting the need for further research.