Review Articles
Vol. 12 No. 4 (2025)
An overview of medicinal uses, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Terminalia brownii Fresen.
Department of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa
Abstract
Terminalia brownii Fresen. is a shrub or small tree widely used in traditional medicine in tropical Africa. This study critically reviewed the medicinal uses, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of T. brownii. Literature was collected from multiple internet sources as well as non-electronic sources which included book chapters, books, scientific reports and journal articles obtained from the University library. This study revealed that T. brownii is used as ethnoveterinary medicine and traditional medicines against respiratory infections, gastro-intestinal problems, malaria, jaundice, colic, diabetes, gastric ulcers, intestinal problems, liver problems, rheumatism, yellow fever, skin diseases, wounds, fever and typhoid. Phytochemical research identified carboxylic acid, chromone derivatives, ellagic acid derivatives, ellagitannins, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, flavonoids, geranylated chalcones, keto acids, phenols, phytosterols, steroids, stilbens, triterpenoids and triterpene glucosides from the bark, flowers, leaves, roots, stem bark and stem wood of T. brownii. Ethnopharmacological research revealed that the phytochemical compounds isolated from T. brownii and the crude extracts of the species demonstrated antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antifungal, antidiarrheal, antimycoplasmal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, antinociceptive, antiulcer, anti-pyretic, hepatoprotective and cytotoxicity activities. T. brownii has become an important medicinal plant species in tropical Africa. Therefore, the full potential of the species as a medicinal plant should be explored by assessing the toxicity, safety, mechanisms of action in vivo and clinical research of the crude extracts and phytochemical compounds isolated from the species. Future ethnopharmacological studies should also examine the combinational effects of T. brownii extracts with other medicinal plants as the species is widely used in synergistic therapy.
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