Carissa bispinosa (L.) Desf. ex Brenan: Evaluation of Traditional and Future Potential Uses

Carissa bispinosa (L.) Desf. ex Brenan is best known for its edible fruits with medicinal properties in eastern and southern Africa. C. bispinosa is a multipurpose species used as food and ornamental plant, source of firewood, fodder and herbal medicine. The leaves, thorns, bark, fruits, roots and stems of C. bispinosa are used as traditional medicines to treat human diseases such as headache, sinusitis, angina pain, chest pains, chronic cough, lack of appetite, toothache, aphrodisiac, cough, diarrhoea, impotence and tuberculosis. The phytochemical evaluation of the plant revealed that it contains 21-hydroxysteroids, acetamide, carbamate ester, carotenoids, fatty acid esters, fatty amide, phenol and tertiary amines. The pharmacological assessments showed that the crude extracts and phytochemical compounds isolated from the species have antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, nematicidal and cytotoxicity activities. The present review compiles existing knowledge of the chemical and pharmacological properties, traditional and present uses, and further use potential and applications of C. bispinosa.