Nutraceutical and Ethnopharmacological Properties of Searsia lancea (L.f.) F.A.Barkley (Family Anacardiaceae): A Narrative Review.

Abstract

<i>Searsia lancea </i>(L.f.) F.A.Barkley is an evergreen tree well-known for its edible fruits and is also widely used in traditional medicine. The current study was aimed at documenting medicinal and traditional uses of <i>S. lancea</i> and its phytochemical and pharmacological properties. Research articles on nutraceutical and ethnopharmacological properties of <i>S. lancea</i> were searched from online databases such as PubMed^®, Web of Science, SciELO, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect^®, SpringerLink^® and Scopus^® and also pre-electronic literature obtained from the university library. <i>Searsia lancea</i> is used as ethnoveterinary medicine and as traditional medicine for fever, measles, sores, wounds, diabetes, sexually transmitted infections, gastrointestinal problems and skin and respiratory infections. Chemical compounds identified from <i>S. lancea</i> include alcohol, alkane, amide, flavonoids, naphthalene, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenols, tannins, steroids, anthraquinones and volatile compounds. <i>Searsia lancea </i>crude extracts demonstrated anthelmintic, antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anticholinesterase (AChE), anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytotoxicity and nematicidal activities. This review highlights the need for detailed nutraceutical and ethnopharmacological studies of <i>S. lancea</i> focusing on its nutritional, phytochemical, biological and toxicological properties, <i>in vivo</i> and clinical studies.