Diospyros lycioides Desf.: Review of its botany, medicinal uses, pharmacological activities and phytochemistry

Diospyros lycioides Desf. (D. lycioides) is traditionally used as herbal medicine against various human and animal ailments in tropical Africa. The present paper reviewed information on botany, medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of D. lycioides. This review was compiled using scientific literature from electronic search engine such as PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, BioMed Central, Scielo, Medline and Science domain. Additional literatures were obtained from book chapters, books, dissertations, websites and other scientific publications. D. lycioides is used as traditional medicine in 50% of the countries where the species is native in tropical Africa. This study recorded 22 medicinal uses of D. lycioides which included abdominal pains, infertility in women, sexually transmitted infections, and used as chewing sticks (or mouthwash), toothbrushes and ethnoveterinary medicine. D. lycioides extracts demonstrated anti-adhesive, anti-inflammatory, antimetastatic, antioxidant, antifungal, antiproliferative, mutagenicity and antibacterial activities. Future research should focus on the pharmacological properties, phytochemistry, clinical trials and pharmacokinetics of D. lycioides which will enhance the therapeutic potential of the species.

Phytochemical and ethnopharmacological review of Elephantorrhiza goetzei (Harms) Harms

Elephantorrhiza goetzei (E. goetzei) commonly known as Goetze's elephantorrhiza, is traditionally used as a decoction in the treatment of a variety of conditions such as pain, sores, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), gastro-intestinal disorders, microbial infections and genito-urinary system disorders. On the basis of its wide distribution in south central Africa, E. goetzei has a long history of applications among the different ethnic groups. A total of 23 ethnomedicinal uses of E. goetzei are documented in this study from 62.5% of the countries where the species is indigenous. Multiple classes of phytochemicals including phenolic compounds, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, stilbenoids, tannins and triterpenoids have been identified from E. goetzei bark, leaves and roots in different investigations. Scientific validation of its diverse uses in traditional medicine has been demonstrated through antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anthelmintic, antioxidant and cytotoxicity assays of crude extracts as well as isolated compounds from the species. E. goetzei has been widely used as a source of herbal medicine for several years without any adverse effects. In light of its long traditional use and the modern phytochemical and pharmacological evaluations summarized in this study, E. goetzei has been demonstrated to show a strong potential for therapeutic and health-maintaining uses. However, there is need for additional studies on the isolated compounds to validate the traditional uses in human models as well as evaluating the possible mechanisms of action. The present review focussing on the biology, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of E. goetzei has provided preliminary information for further studies on the species.

Acacia karroo Hayne: Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of an important medicinal plant in southern Africa

Acacia karroo (A. karroo) has been used as herbal medicine by the indigenous people of southern Africa for several centuries. The potential of A. karroo as herbal medicine, its associated phytochemistry and biological activities are reviewed. The extensive literature survey revealed that A. karroo is traditionally used to treat or manage 32 and five human and animal diseases and ailments, respectively. The species is used as herbal medicine for diseases and ailments such as colds, diarrhoea, dysentery, flu, malaria, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), wounds, and also as colic and ethnoveterinary medicine. Multiple classes of phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenols, phytosterols, proanthocyanidin, tannin, terpenes as well as several minerals have been identified from leaves and roots of A. karroo. Scientific studies on A. karroo indicate that it has a wide range of pharmacological activities which include antibacterial, antifungal, antigonococcal, antihelmintic, antilisterial, antimalarial, antimycobacterial, antioxidant, HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, anti-inflammatory and analgesic. A. karroo has a lot of potential as a possible source of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of a wide range of both human and animal diseases and ailments. Future research should focus on the mechanisms of action of the different plant parts used as herbal medicines, isolated compounds, their efficacy, toxicity and clinical relevance.

Traditional usage, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Croton sylvaticus Hochst. ex C. Krauss

Croton sylvaticus (C. sylvaticus) is widely used as herbal medicine by the indigenous people of tropical Africa. The potential of C. sylvaticus as herbal medicine, the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of its parts used as herbal medicines are reviewed. The extensive literature survey revealed that C. sylvaticus is traditionally used to treat or manage at least 24 human and animal diseases and ailments. The species is used as herbal medicine for diseases and ailments such as abdominal pains, boils, fever, inflammation, malaria, rheumatism, swellings and tuberculosis and as ethnoveterinary medicine. Multiple classes of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, anthraquinones, essential oils, flavonoids, lignan, phenolics, sterols, tannins and terpenoids have been isolated from the species. Scientific studies on C. sylvaticus indicate that it has a wide range of pharmacological activities which include antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, larvicidal and effects on the central nervous system. Although studies have confirmed that C. sylvaticus has a wide range of bioactives, further research on the exact bioactive molecules and mechanisms of action are required.

Euclea undulata Thunb.: Review of its botany, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and biological activities

Euclea undulata (E. undulata) is traditionally used for the treatment of body pains, chest complaints, cough, diabetes, diarrhoea, headaches, heart diseases and toothaches in southern Africa. This study was aimed at reviewing the botany, ethnopharmacology and biological activities of E. undulata in southern Africa. Results presented in this study are based on review of literature using search engines such as Science Direct, Springerlink, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, BioMed Central and Google Scholar. Herbal medicine is prepared from the decoctions of the roots, bark and leaves, and extracts of these plant parts have demonstrated anticholinesterase, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antimycobacterial, antiplasmodial, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic activities. Multiple classes of phytochemical compounds such alkaloids, diterpenes, fatty acids, flavonoids, glycosides, naphthoquinones, phenolics, phytosterols, reducing sugars, saponins and tannins have been isolated from the species. E. undulata has a lot of potential as herbal medicine in tropical Africa, and advanced research is required aimed at correlating its medicinal uses with the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties.

Phytochemical and ethnopharmacological review of Elephantorrhiza goetzei (Harms) Harms

Elephantorrhiza goetzei (E. goetzei) commonly known as Goetze's elephantorrhiza, is traditionally used as a decoction in the treatment of a variety of conditions such as pain, sores, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), gastro-intestinal disorders, microbial infections and genito-urinary system disorders. On the basis of its wide distribution in south central Africa, E. goetzei has a long history of applications among the different ethnic groups. A total of 23 ethnomedicinal uses of E. goetzei are documented in this study from 62.5% of the countries where the species is indigenous. Multiple classes of phytochemicals including phenolic compounds, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, stilbenoids, tannins and triterpenoids have been identified from E. goetzei bark, leaves and roots in different investigations. Scientific validation of its diverse uses in traditional medicine has been demonstrated through antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anthelmintic, antioxidant and cytotoxicity assays of crude extracts as well as isolated compounds from the species. E. goetzei has been widely used as a source of herbal medicine for several years without any adverse effects. In light of its long traditional use and the modern phytochemical and pharmacological evaluations summarized in this study, E. goetzei has been demonstrated to show a strong potential for therapeutic and health-maintaining uses. However, there is need for additional studies on the isolated compounds to validate the traditional uses in human models as well as evaluating the possible mechanisms of action. The present review focussing on the biology, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of E. goetzei has provided preliminary information for further studies on the species.

Acacia karroo Hayne: Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of an important medicinal plant in southern Africa

Acacia karroo (A. karroo) has been used as herbal medicine by the indigenous people of southern Africa for several centuries. The potential of A. karroo as herbal medicine, its associated phytochemistry and biological activities are reviewed. The extensive literature survey revealed that A. karroo is traditionally used to treat or manage 32 and five human and animal diseases and ailments, respectively. The species is used as herbal medicine for diseases and ailments such as colds, diarrhoea, dysentery, flu, malaria, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), wounds, and also as colic and ethnoveterinary medicine. Multiple classes of phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenols, phytosterols, proanthocyanidin, tannin, terpenes as well as several minerals have been identified from leaves and roots of A. karroo. Scientific studies on A. karroo indicate that it has a wide range of pharmacological activities which include antibacterial, antifungal, antigonococcal, antihelmintic, antilisterial, antimalarial, antimycobacterial, antioxidant, HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, anti-inflammatory and analgesic. A. karroo has a lot of potential as a possible source of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of a wide range of both human and animal diseases and ailments. Future research should focus on the mechanisms of action of the different plant parts used as herbal medicines, isolated compounds, their efficacy, toxicity and clinical relevance.

Traditional usage, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Croton sylvaticus Hochst. ex C. Krauss

Croton sylvaticus (C. sylvaticus) is widely used as herbal medicine by the indigenous people of tropical Africa. The potential of C. sylvaticus as herbal medicine, the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of its parts used as herbal medicines are reviewed. The extensive literature survey revealed that C. sylvaticus is traditionally used to treat or manage at least 24 human and animal diseases and ailments. The species is used as herbal medicine for diseases and ailments such as abdominal pains, boils, fever, inflammation, malaria, rheumatism, swellings and tuberculosis and as ethnoveterinary medicine. Multiple classes of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, anthraquinones, essential oils, flavonoids, lignan, phenolics, sterols, tannins and terpenoids have been isolated from the species. Scientific studies on C. sylvaticus indicate that it has a wide range of pharmacological activities which include antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, larvicidal and effects on the central nervous system. Although studies have confirmed that C. sylvaticus has a wide range of bioactives, further research on the exact bioactive molecules and mechanisms of action are required.

Euclea undulata Thunb.: Review of its botany, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and biological activities

Euclea undulata (E. undulata) is traditionally used for the treatment of body pains, chest complaints, cough, diabetes, diarrhoea, headaches, heart diseases and toothaches in southern Africa. This study was aimed at reviewing the botany, ethnopharmacology and biological activities of E. undulata in southern Africa. Results presented in this study are based on review of literature using search engines such as Science Direct, Springerlink, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, BioMed Central and Google Scholar. Herbal medicine is prepared from the decoctions of the roots, bark and leaves, and extracts of these plant parts have demonstrated anticholinesterase, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antimycobacterial, antiplasmodial, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic activities. Multiple classes of phytochemical compounds such alkaloids, diterpenes, fatty acids, flavonoids, glycosides, naphthoquinones, phenolics, phytosterols, reducing sugars, saponins and tannins have been isolated from the species. E. undulata has a lot of potential as herbal medicine in tropical Africa, and advanced research is required aimed at correlating its medicinal uses with the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties.