Medicinal Plants - International Journal of Phytomedicines and Related Industries

Terminalia phanerophlebia Engl. & Diels is a shrub or small tree widely used as a source of traditional medicines in southern Africa. The aim of this study was to review the medicinal uses, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of T. phanerophlebia. A search for available information on the medicinal uses, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of T. phanerophlebia was conducted by systematically searching the scientific databases. The bark, roots or root powder of T. phanerophlebia are used as charm and/or traditional medicine for sexually transmitted infections, bilharzia, cough, wounds, tuberculosis, chest pains, menstrual problems, neck pains, pneumonia, rheumatism and shoulder pains. The phytochemical evaluation of the plant species revealed that it contains flavonoids, fatty acids, phytoceramides, ligands, oxacycle, dicarboxylic acid, ellagitannin, polyphenol, terpenoids, amine oxide, esters, sterols, tannins, saponins and cardiac glycosides. The pharmacological evaluations showed that the crude extracts and phytochemical compounds isolated from the species have antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cytotoxicity activities. To realize the full potential of T. phanerophlebia as traditional medicine, future studies should focus on conducting detailed phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological evaluations, in vivo and clinical research.