Hilliardiellia aristata: Review of its Medicinal uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological properties

Hilliardiellia aristata is a herbaceous plant species used as traditional medicine in southern Africa. The current investigation is aimed at reviewing the phytochemistry, pharmacological properties and medicinal uses of H. aristata. Results of the current study are based on literature search on pharmacological properties, phytochemistry and medicinal uses of H. aristata using information obtained from several internet sources such as Scopus, Elsevier, SciFinder, Google Scholar, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, BMC and Web of Science. Other sources of information included pre-electronic sources such as journal articles, theses, book chapters, books and other scientific publications obtained from the University library. The current study showed that H. aristata is used as a protective charm, traditional medicine for kidney problems, fever, headache, respiratory infections and malaria. Ethnopharmacological research identified glaucolides, lactones, alkaloids, phenols, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids and steroids from the aerial parts and leaves of H. aristata. The aerial parts, leaves, roots and whole plant parts of H. aristata exhibited anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiplasmodial, antiprotozoal, larvicidal and cytotoxicity activities. Hilliardiella aristata should be subjected to detailed phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological studies.