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Review
. 2025 Jan 16;14(2):239.
doi: 10.3390/plants14020239.

Bioactive Molecules, Ethnomedicinal Uses, Toxicology, and Pharmacology of Peltophorum africanum Sond (Fabaceae): Systematic Review

Nkoana I Mongalo  1 , Maropeng V Raletsena  1
Affiliations
Review

Bioactive Molecules, Ethnomedicinal Uses, Toxicology, and Pharmacology of Peltophorum africanum Sond (Fabaceae): Systematic Review

Nkoana I Mongalo et al. Plants (Basel). .

Abstract

Plants have long been used to treat serious illnesses in both humans and animals. A significant underappreciated medicinal tree, Peltophorum africanum Sond is utilized by many different ethnic groups to cure a wide range of illnesses. A variety of electronic databases, including ScienceDirect, Scopus, Scielo, Scifinder, PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and Google Scholar, were used to search the literature on P. africanum, using key words such as uses, survey, pharmacology, antigonococcal, toxicity, phytochemistry and others. Further data was obtained from several scholarly theses, dissertations, and books on general plant sciences, ethnomedicine, and other pertinent ethnobotanical topics. The plant species possess very important pharmacological activities in vitro, which includes antimicrobial, anti-HIV, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, and other activities. Phytochemically, the plant possesses various classes of compounds, dominated by flavonols, which may well explain its wider range of pharmacological activities. Although the plant is promising anti-HIV activity, the mode of action and safety profiles of the plant also need to be explored as its extracts exerted some degree of mutagenicity. It is also important to further explore its ethnoveterinary use against a plethora of nematodes that infects both wild and domestic animals. Given its potent pharmacological activity, the further in vivo studies need to be explored to ascertain the comprehensive toxicology of the plant species, thereby developing possible medications. The plant species may further be elevated to a potent pharmaceutical product against plethora of infections.

Keywords: Peltophorum africanum Sond; antimicrobial; cytotoxicity; ethnomedicine; ethnoveterinary; in vitro; in vivo; phytochemistry; sexually transmitted infections.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Various parts of Peltophorum africanum. Full tree (A), Stem bark (B), Leaves (C), Seeds (D), and Flowers (E). Pictures of the plant specimen was taken by Dr NI Mongalo, at Edenvale golf Course in Johannesburg.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of the uses of P. africanum Sond disease categories and citations per country.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Coumarins isolated from leaves of Peltophorum africanum.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Various flavanols isolated and characterized from various parts of Peltophorum africanum.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Various flavanols isolated and characterized from various parts of Peltophorum africanum.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Various flavanols isolated and characterized from various parts of Peltophorum africanum.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Some triterpenes isolated and characterized from various parts from Peltophorum africanum.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Benzoids isolated and characterized from various parts from Peltophorum africanum.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Lactones isolated and characterized from heartwood of Peltophorum africanum.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Condensed flavonoids isolated and characterized from heartwood of Peltophorum africanum.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Various sources extracted from the literature used in the current systematic review.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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