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Table 2 Summary of ethnobotanical uses versus measured biological activities of isolated secondary metabolites

From: Cameroonian medicinal plants: a bioactivity versus ethnobotanical survey and chemotaxonomic classification

Plant family

Plant species

Ethnobotanical uses

Part of plant studied

Isolated metabolites

Measured activity of Isolated metabolite

Acanthaceae

Brillantaisia lamium

The aerial part of this plant is used in the treatment of various microbial infections, such as skin diseases and infections of the urinary tract.

aerial parts

11, 24, 25 and 26

Antimicrobial, Tamokou et al.[73]

Amaryllidaceae

Crinum purpurascens

The macerated leaves are used as anti-poison or as antidote of mystical poisoning. Also, an infusion of the leaves is used for the treatment of some microbial infections.

leaves

27 and 28

Anti-salmonellal and antibacterial, Nkanwen et al.[74]

Asteraceae

Senecio mannii

The plant is used to treat microbial and fungal infections.

aerial parts

29 and 30

Antifungal, Ndom et al.[75]

Bignoniaceae

Stereospermum zenkeri

The bark is to treat bronchitis; its roots and leaves are used to cure fever and microbial infections.

stem bark

31 and 32

Antimicrobial, Lenta et al.[48]

Bombacaceae

Ceiba pentandra

The plant is well reputed in for the treatment of many illnesses, such as, headache, dizziness, constipation, skin diseases, mental troubles, and fever.

stem bark

33 and 34

Antifungal, Ngounou et al.[76]

Caesalpiniaceae

Cassia petersiana

The leaves are generally used for the treatment of typhoid fever.

leaves

35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40

Antisalmonellal activity, Djemgou et al.[77], Gatsing et al.[78]

Combretaceae

Pteleopsis hylodendron

Treatment of STDs, female sterility, kidney and liver disorders and dropsy.

bark

41, 42, 43 and 44

Active against Staphylococcus aureus , S . pyogenes , and Baccilus cereus, Rahman et al.[79]

 

Terminalia superba

Used to treat gastroenteritis, diabetes, female infertility and abdominal pain.

bark

45 and 46

α-Glycosidase inhibition, immunoinhibitory activity, Tabopda et al.[80]

Ebenaceae

Diospyros canaliculata

Used in the treatment of whooping cough, leprosy, snake bites, scabies, skin eruptions, dysentery, eye infections, menstrual troubles, abdominal pains, wounds, ulcers, chest pains and skin infections.

stem bark

11, 47 and 48

Antifungal activity, Dzoyem et al.[81]

Hypericaceae, Clusiceae or Guttiferae

Hypericum lanceolatum

Used to treat several ailments including malaria, skin infections, venereal diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, tumours, and infertility, epilepsies and nerves problems.

stem bark

49, 50, 51 and 52

Anti-malarial, Zofou et al.[62]

 

Harungana madagascariensis

Effective in the treatment of jaundice, diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid fever, and constipation. Decoction of leaves is also used in liver problems and against anaemia. The roots and bark are used to treat malaria.

stem bark

49, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58

Antiplasmodial, Lenta et al.[63]

Hypericaceae, Clusiceae or Guttiferae

Garcinia Polyantha

The plant has some anti-malarial property. The yellow resinous sap (latex) is used to make a dressing for wounds.

root bark

59

This compound shows anti-malarial activity by strong chemosuppression of parasitic growth, Lannang et al.[64]

 

Allanblackia gabonensis

Used against infections like dysentery, cold, and toothache.

stem bark

60, 61, 62, 63 and 64

Activity against Leishmania amazonensis and antimicrobial activities against a range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, Azebaze et al.[82]

 

Symphonia globulifera

Used to cure several diseases such as stomach and skin aches. It is also used as laxative for pregnant women and as a general tonic. The bark is used by traditional healers to treat malaria.

seed shells

65, 66, 67 and 68

Anti-malarial, antioxidant, Ngouela et al.[65]

 

Psorospermum febrifugum

Plants of this genus are largely used in the African folk medicine as febrifugal, antidote against poison and purgative. They are also used as a remedy for the treatment of leprosy, skin diseases (such as dermatitis, scabies and eczemas) and subcutaneous wounds.

roots

69

Antimicrobial (bacteria and fungi), Tsaffack et al.[83]

 

Pentadesma butyracea

Different parts of the plant are used in tropical African medicine to treat fever, coughs, constipation, bronchitis, and venereal diseases and viral infections.

fruit pericarp

70

Erythrocyte susceptibility, antiplasmodial, Lenta et al.[84]

Ixonanthaceae

Irvingia gabonensis

The stem bark decoction is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea, gastrointestinal or hepatic disorders, as a purgative, as well as a host of ailments. The decoction of the root barks is also used to treat diarrhoea and as mouth bath in the dental neuralgias.

stem bark

49, 53, 71, 72, 73 and 74

Antimicrobial. Compound 74 is particularly active against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, confirming the ethnobotanical use of the plant in the treatment of the disease caused by this agent, Kuete et al.[85]

stem bark

53

Hepatoprotective activity. This crude extract and isolated compound 53 might be useful for the prevention of toxic-induced and free radical-mediated liver diseases, since it has been suggested that compounds may be used as prophylactic agents, Donfack et al.[86]

Leguminosae-Papilionoideae

Millettia griffoniana

Crude extracts from root and stem bark are used to treat boils, insect bites, inflammatory affections like pneumonia and asthma, sterility, amenorrhea and menopausal disorders.

root bark

75 and 76

Estrogenic activity, Wanda et al.[45]

 

Erythrina sigmoidea

Widely used in Cameroon to treat syphilis, wounds of ulcers and female sterility.

stem bark

77, 78 and 79

Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Kouam et al.[87–89]

Meliaceae

Entandrophragma angolense

Used as an anti-malarial or antipyretic in traditional medicine.

stem bark

80 and 81

Antiplasmodial, Bickii et al.[67]

 

Turraeanthus africanus

Treatment of typhoid fever.

seeds

82

Antisalmonellal activity against Salmonella typhi, S. paratyphi A and S. paratyphi B, Djemgou et al.[90]

  

The species of this genus have been used for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, stomach ache, rheumatism pains, and asthma. The stem bark is used in the treatment of intestinal worms.

seeds

82

Antimicrobial, Djemgou et al.[90]

  

The trunk bark and seeds of this plant are boiled together with Carica papaya leaves, the seeds of Aframomum melegueta and lime and used for treatment of malaria and other fevers.

seeds

83, 84 and 85

Antiplasmodial activity, Ngemenya et al.[91]

Leguminosae- Mimosoideae

Cylicodiscus gabunensis

Used to prepare remedies for infectious diseases and is known for its antibacterial and antiplasmodial activities.

stem bark

86

Exhibited antimicrobial activity against Proteus vulgaris, Nchancho et al.[92]

 

Albizia adianthifolia

Used traditionally to treat several ailments, including infectious and associated diseases.

stem bark

24

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, Tamokou et al.[93]

Monimiaceae

Glossocalyx brevipes

The macerated leaves are added to anti-fever preparations.

leaves

87, 88 and 89

Anti-malarial, Mbah et al.[66]

Moraceae

Morus mesozygia

Roots, stem and leaves are used to treat syphilis, dermatitis, rheumatism, asthenias, fever and malaria.

stem bark

90, 91 and 92

Cytotoxic and anti-malarial, Zelefack et al.[68]

 

Antiaris africana

Bark extracts are used for the treatment of chest pain, leaf decoctions for the treatment of syphilis, and the latex is a purgative agent. It is also used in the treatment of sore throat, leprosy and cancer.

stem bark

93

Antioxidant and anticancer, Kuete et al.[94]

 

Treculia obovoidea

Traditionally used to treat skin diseases, dental allergy, amoebic dysentery and AIDS

twigs

94

Antimicrobial activity, Kuete et al.[95]

Moraceae

Artocarpus communis

Treatment of cardiovascular diseases, used as food; other parts of the plants are traditionally used to treat headache, infectious and associated diseases such as toothache, eye problems, ear infections, herpes, enlarged spleen, sprains, contusions, swelling, chest pain and vomiting from heart problems, boils, abscess, and skin infections.

root

95 and 96

Antimicrobial activities, Kuete et al.[96]

 

Dorstenia barteri

Used in the treatment of malaria.

twigs

97, 98, 99, 100, 101 and 102

Anti-malarial activity, Ngameni et al.[69]

 

Ficus cordata

Used against hyperaesthesia, ataxia, muscle tremor, padding motions and jaundice, which could be a symptom of several related liver diseases.

stem bark

11, 103, 104, 105 and 106

Hepatoprotective and cytotoxic, Donfack et al.[97]

Myristicaceae

Pycnanthus angolensis

Treatment of stomach pain, chest pain and rhinitis problems, malaria, toothache, fungal skin infections, chest pain, oral thrush, and worms; some further claim a folkloric use for the treatment of leprosy.

stem bark

107, 108 and 109

Antifungal activity, Wabo et al.[98]

Olacaceae

Coula edulis

Treatment of stomach ache and skin diseases.

stem bark

110 and 111

Antidermatophytic activity against Microsporum audouinii and Epidermophyton floccoseum, Tamokou et al.[99]

Sapotaceae

Baillonella Toxisperma

Treatment of abscesses, infertility, stomach troubles, convulsion, rheumatism and malaria.

stem bark

49 and 112

Activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Mbah et al.[70]

Verbenaceae

Vitex cienkowskii

Used in the treatment of many disorders, including cardiovascular disease.

stem bark

113

Vasorelaxant, antioxidant and hypertensive effect, Dongmo et al.[100]

Zingiberaceae

Aframomum zambesiacum

Used to treat fevers.

seeds

114, 115 and 116

Anti-malarial, Kenmogne et al.[71]

 

Reneilmia cincinnata

Used to treat fevers and as a spice.

fruits

117, 118 and 119

Anti-malarial, Tchuendem et al.[72]