Anthocleista Djalonensis: A Review of Its Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Potentials

Anthocleista djalonensis is widely used in African folk medicine to treat conditions. This review aims to provide for the first time ethnopharmacological information while critically evaluating the traditional medicinal uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities so as to unveil opportunities for future research. Ethno-medical uses of the, leaf, root and stem bark extracts include treatment of wound, constipation, diarrhoea, dysentery, abdominal pain, hepatitis, jaundice, cirrhosis, fungal skin infection, filarial worm infections, acute inflammation and boils on skin, anti-diabetes, antimalarial, anti-pyretic, anthelmintic, antimycobacterial, and anti-bacterial properties. Some of the compounds isolated are phthalide and xanthones sweroside, djalonenoside, lichex-anthone, stigmasterol, 3-oxo-Δ4′5-sitosterone, sitosterol, ursolicacid, djalonensin and D-(þ)-bornesitol. The pharmacological activities of the leaf, stem bark and root has been scientifically proven by in vitro and in vivo studies. The cytotoxic activity of the crude methanol extracts obtained from the stem, roots and leaves and three natural plant constituents (djalonenol, sweroside and djalonensone respectively) isolated from the extract had been evaluated in vitro. This review has been able to show the therapeutic potentials of Anthocleista djalonensis through its ethnobotanical and pharmacological uses.