The chemistry and bioactivity of Southern African flora II: flavonoids, quinones and minor compound classes

Abstract

This review is intended to highlight the relevance of natural products in drug discovery paying particular attention to those derived from Southern African medicinal plants with diverse biological activities. In this review series, a literature survey led to the collection of 864 secondary metabolites from 101 plant species from 57 plant families. A correlation between the known biological activities of isolated compounds and the ethnobotanical uses of the plants has been attempted. Part I focused on alkaloids and terpenoids, while this part is focused on the bioactivities of flavonoids, quinines and other minor, unique compound classes which correlate with their ethnobotanical uses in African traditional medicine (ATM).

Senna singueana: Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Antiapoptotic Properties and Phytochemical Profiling of a Methanol Bark Extract

“…The bark extract from Tanzania showed trypanocidal activities [ 19 ]. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the leaves, seed and root revealed several classes of plant secondary metabolites including phenols, saponins, tannins, and anthraquinones as well as alkaloids, tannins, sterols, and terpenes [ 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

The Chemistry and Biological Activities of Natural Products from Northern African Plant Families: From Taccaceae to Zygophyllaceae

“…From Tables 1 to 5 , it appears as though the correlation between the application of plant materials (e.g. in traditional medicines) and the biological activities of the isolated plant metabolites is relatively weak (with the exception of a few correlations marked in bold), when compared with our previous reviews from Central Africa [ 247 , 248 ], West Africa [ 249 – 252 ], Southern Africa [ 253 , 254 ] and the previously discussed families from the region [ 14 , 15 ]. One could easily explain off this weak correlation by the fact that traditional methods like boiling, the use of total extracts as mixtures, steam baths, etc.…”

Ethnobotanical uses, phytochemistry and biological activity of the genus Euclea: A review

“…The root bark of E. undulata is reported to be used for the management of body pains, diabetes, headache, and toothache while an infusion of its leaves is used for stomach problems or diarrhea, and leaf decoction for tonsillitis ( Deutschländer M. et al, 2009 ; Dhayalan et al, 2015 ; Maroyi, 2017 ). This plant is a folk medicine for diabetes in the Venda area, Limpopo Province ( Deutschländer M. S. et al, 2009 ; Babiaka et al, 2015 ; Maroyi, 2017 ). In the Western Cape, the root infusion of E .…”

“…Its charred and powdered root is used treat leprosy, urinary tract infections, venereal diseases, dysmenorrhea, and ancylostomiasis among Shangaan people ( Lall & Meyer, 2000 ; Lall and Meyer, 2001 ); Kooy et al, 2006 ; Deutschländer, 2010) while its root bark infusions for sores and wounds in South Africa ( Lall and Meyer, 2001 ). Within the Tonga people, the same part of this plant exhibits toothache and headache relief ( Deutschländer M. et al, 2009 ; Babiaka et al, 2015 ; Dhayalan et al, 2015 ).…”

“…In Swaziland, the stem bark decoction of E. divinorum is a folk medicine for constipation ( Amusan et al, 2007 ). The root bark is used for diarrhea, convulsions, cancer, and skin diseases ( Mebe et al, 1998 ; Babiaka et al, 2015 ). In Kenya, the root of this plant is a remedy for chest pain, pneumonia, and internal body swelling ( Woldemedhin et al, 2017 ).…”