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Rapidly emerging diseases, such as viral infections, cancer, and autoimmune disorders are becoming an increasing global health concern. Natural products, including plant extracts and compounds, possess an enormous spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antiviral, anticancer, immunomodulatory, anti-asthma, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertension, and anti-rheumatism activities. Among them, the genus Uncaria (Rubiaceae family), rich in alkaloids and triterpenes, is believed to have vast therapeutic potential. This genus is mostly found in tropical regions, such as Africa, Southeast Asia, and Southeast America. In this review, we aim to summarize the studies on plant substances of genus Uncaria showing promising antimicrobial, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities. A total of 814 studies were identified through database searches, of which 681 studies were excluded due to duplication and irrelevance to antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and pharmacology activity. 133 studies were included, out of which 16 studies were related to antimicrobial and 117 studies related to the pharmacology of Uncaria. According to the collected data Uncaria species proved to have a broad range of pharmacological activities, which makes it more interesting for further studies, to explore more about its antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and other potential pharmacological properties. • Numerous herbal and medicinal plant extracts have been used as potential therapeutic agents in traditional medical practices. • Studies have demonstrated that the genus Uncaria (family Rubiaceae) has a wide range of pharmacological activities. • The available data make Uncaria species more interestingto explore it for further potential pharmacological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Stem and leaf of Cissus quadrangularis L. (Vitaceae), indigenous to Asia and Africa. • Stem/leaf samples were assessed for polyphenolics determination using HPTLC, UHPLC-PDA and LC-QToF. • The newly validated UHPLC-PDA method is used for quantitative determination. • LC-QToF method is described for the targeted and non-targeted analysis of compounds. • The different analytical methods provided fast and reliable procedures for quality assessment. Stem and leaf of Cissus quadrangularis L. (Vitaceae), indigenous to Asia and Africa, were used for medicinal and dietary purposes with limited information about the plant's phytochemistry. Stem and leaf samples were assessed for the simultaneous determination of polyphenolic compounds (catechin, epicatechin, quercetin-3- O - β -glucopyranoside, kaempferol-3- O - β -glucoside, quercetin-3- O - β -rhamnoside, leachianol F, amurensin A, pallidol, resveratrol, and quadrangularin A), using UHPLC-PDA-MS. The validation data showed that the method is precise, specific, accurate, and linear over the range of 0.5−100 μg/mL. Reversed-phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) fingerprints of the crude methanolic stem and leaf extracts of C. quadrangularis were obtained at different wavelengths based on their λ max. Polyphenolics were characterized using both UHPLC-PDA-MS and LC-QToF analysis. From liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-QToF) spectra, over 40 components were structurally correlated, and confirmation was based on the fragmentation characteristics and also from the information available in the literature. In addition to the LC-QToF method, a simple, fast HPTLC method was developed as a visual aid for the rapid qualitative analytical tool to help establish the quality assessment of botanical raw materials and dietary supplements claiming to contain Cissus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]