Canarium species: A review on the bioactive compounds and potential pharmacological benefits of C. ovatum, C. album and C. odontophyllum

This review critically synthesizes current evidence on available pieces of evidence on the botanical characteristics, traditional uses, pharmacognostic constituents, and potential pharmacological properties of Canarium species, specifically Canarium ovatum, Canarium album, Canarium odontophyllum. Belonging to the family Burseraceae, C. ovatum is a tropical tree species native to the Philippines, where it serves as an economically significant crop, particularly in the Bicol region—the center of the Philippines’ pili nut industry. There are various reports about the high amount of bioactive compounds in the kernels, pulp oil, and leaf extracts of the plant, such as polyphenols, tocopherols, phytosterols, and bioactive peptides. These constituents exhibit a varying range of biological activities, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antihypertensive, anticancer, and immunomodulatory effects, as demonstrated in different in-vitro and in-vivo studies.
This review combines current research findings on the nutritional and pharmacological potential of C. ovatum to highlight its value as a functional food and a promising source of bioactive compounds for therapeutic and pharmacological applications.
Overall, this review study aims to consolidate current research on the nutritional composition and potential pharmacological activities of C. ovatum, C. album, and C. odontophyllum, emphasizing their value as promising sources of novel bioactive molecules for modern pharmacological applications.