Traditional uses, phytochemistry and therapeutic efficacy of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) - A Review

Abstract

The usage of naturally available resources by humans for gratifying different requirements is an age-old custom. This is because natural products provide indispensable facilities in the form of nutritional, economic, social, medicinal aspects and many more. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has been used as an herbal medicine by different groups of ethnic people. Besides having medicinal prospect, this plant is commonly used as a source of nutrition for humans and animals in tropical regions. However, conduction of more studies to see if there is chemical, microbiological, and/or clinical evidence, from a scientific perspective, of their effectiveness for those ailments. Therefore, this review was conducted to summarize the traditional uses, to understand the phytochemistry and identify the possible correlation between bioactive compounds and corresponding pharmacological properties. A systematic and detailed literature search has been undertaken for the study by using standard search engines like Google Scholar, PubMed, SciFinder, Research Gate and Science Direct. The evidential information was then assembled to present the manuscript with separate sections. From the literature search, it came into focus that Cassava contains various secondary metabolites which exhibits some notable pharmacological activities like antioxidant, antiradical, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiarrheal, analgesic and pesticidal activity. The biological activities established by cassava provide insight into its usagthe e in traditional medicinal systems. But an intricate and thorough review appears to be deficient on M. esculenta. Therefore, this review has summarized the studies investigating about the traditional uses, phytochemistry, bioactive compounds and therapeutic efficacy of M. esculenta. The significance of this review is aimed at a better understanding of the novel applications and further considerations for more logical and scientific evaluation. We hope this study will further aid in the development of research on this area to identify a new generation of natural source-based treatments that will help meet the growing consumer demand for safe, sustainable, and natural treatments.