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Table 1 Pharmacognosy of twenty-two studied Cameroonian medicinal plants

From: Cytotoxicity of Elaoephorbia drupifera and other Cameroonian medicinal plants against drug sensitive and multidrug resistant cancer cells

Plant species, family/(Voucher specimen)a

Traditional use

Part used traditionally

Part used in this study (extraction yield in %)b

Potential active constituents

Previously screened activity

Ageratum conyzoïdes Linn. (Asteraceae)/(19050/SFR-Cam)

Purgative, fever, ulcers and wound, mental and infectious diseases, headaches, craw-craw, diarrhea [13].

Leaves, whole plant [13]

Leaves (8.52%)

β-caryophyllene, precocene I, friedelin, Lycopsamine, echinatine,β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, 5-methoxynobiletin, linderoflavone B, eupalestin, sabinene, α and βpinene, 1.6%, β-phellandrene, 1,8-cineole and limonene, ocimene, eugenol [13]

Antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, insecticidal [13]

Albizia gummifera (Mimosaceae)/(41196/HNC)

Bacterial infections, skin diseases, malaria and stomach pain [14]

Bark

Bark (11.51%)

Vitalboside A, vitalboside-A-2-methylglucuronate, lupeol, lupenone [14]

Antiplasmodial [15]

Aloe barbadensis Mill. (Liliaceae), ICNA

Abrasions and burns, emollient and moisturizer [16]

Leaves [16]

Leaves (8.15%)

Aloin A, B, aloesin, aloresin A, aloe-emodin, rhein, aloe-emodin-9-anthrone [16]

Antidiabetic, antiviral, angiogenic, toxicity, immunomodulator [16]

Cissus quadrangularis Linn. (Vitaceae)/(18668/SRF-Cam)

Fracture healing, eye diseases, chronic ulcer, tumors, asthma [17]

Stem, pulps [17]

Stem (6.83%)

Alpha and β-amyrin, β-sitosterol, ketosteroid, phenols, tannins, carotene [17]

Antiosteoporotic, analgesic, hypotensive, antibacterial, antifungal [18]

Crinum zeylanicum Linn. (Amaryllidaceae)/(18263/SRF-Cam)

Rheumatism, earache, malaria, poison [19]

Bulbs [19]

Whole plant (6.85%)

Flexinine, 6‒hydroxypowelline, zeylamine, hamayne, 3‒acetylhamayne, crinamine, 6‒hydroxycrinamine, 6‒methoxycrinamine, crinine, ambelline, 6‒hydroxybuphandrine, 6‒ethoxybuphandrine, 6‒ethoxybuphanidrine, lycorine, 11‒O‒acetoxyambelline, galanthamine, sanguinine, 3‒O‒acetylsanguinine [19]

Antiproliferative compounds [19]

Croton macrostachys Hochst. (Euphorbiaceae)/(40501/HNC)

Antidiabetic [20]

Roots, bark [20]

Bark (12.72%)

Taraxer-14-en-28-oic acid, trachyloban-19-oic acid, trachyloban-18-oic acid, neoclerodan-5,10-en-19,6β;20,12-diolide, 3α,19-dihydroxytrachylobane, 3α,18,19-trihydoxytrachylobane [20]

Not reported

Dioscorea bulbifera L (Dioscoreaceae)/(14274/HNC)

Sore throat and struma, leprosy and tumors, diabetes, microbial infections [21, 22]

Rhizome [21]

Rhizome (15.8%)

Kaempferol-3,5-dimethyl ether, caryatin, (+)-catechin, myricetin, quercetin-3-O-galactopyranoside, myricetin-3-O-galactopyranoside, myricetin-3-O-glucopyranoside, diosbulbin B [21]

Analgesic, anti-inflammatory [23], antimicrobial [22]

Dioscorea dumetorum (Kunth) Pax Trusted (Dioscoreaceae)/(24431/ SRF-Cam)

Diabetes, topical anesthetic, poison [24]

Leaves

Leaves (6.95%)

Dumetorine, dihydrodioscorine, demethylbatatasin IV, dihydroresveratrol [24, 25]

Not reported

Dissotis perkinsiae Gilg. (Melastomataceae)/(6991/ SRF-Cam)

Typhoid fever (Personal information)

Leaves, stem

Stem with leaves (10.35%)

Not reported

Not reported

Elaoephorbia drupifera (Thonn.) Stapf. (Euphorbiaceae)/(57644/HNC)

Hypertension, diabetes [26]

Leaves [26]

Leaves

Euphol, tirucallol, euphorbol, ingenol elaeophorbate, epitaraxerol, taraxerone, friedelin, lup-20(29)-en-3-one or lupenone, lupeol, olean-12-ene-3-one, olean-12-ene-3-ol,elaeophorbate [27, 28]

Leaves extract moderately inhibit HIV-1 and HIV-2 proviral DNA copying [29], relaxant effect on vascular smooth muscles on rats [30]

Entada abyssinica Steud. ex A. Rich. (Mimosaceae)/(26967/SRF-Cam)

Bronchitis, coughs, arthritic pain, miscarriage, fever, abdominal pain [31]

Bark, Juice [31]

Bark (13.95%)

Not reported

Not reported

Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst) Cufod (Acanthaceae)/(16371/SRF-Cam)

Dysentery, anemia, irregular menstruation, hemorrhoids, urinary tract infection [32]

Stem, leaves [32]

Stem with leaves (8.15%)

Not reported

Anti-diarrhoeal, anti-ulcerogenic [32]

Gossypium barbadense L. (Malvaceae)/(25771/HNC)

Cold, bronchitis, palpitations, wounds, systematic diarrhea [33]

leaves, young shoots [33]

Leaves (8.15%)

Gossypol, hemigossypol,6-methoxyhemigossypol, 6-deoxyhemigossypol, 6-methoxygossypol, 6,6′-dimethoxygossypol [34, 35]

Antimicrobial [33]

Kigelia Africana (Lam.) Benth (Bignoniaceae)/(23220/SRF-Cam)

Dysentery, ringworm, tape-worm, malaria, diabetes, post-partum haemorrhage, pneumonia, toothache, syphilis, gonorrhea [36]

Roots, fruits, leaves, bark [36]

Bark (15.85%)

Pinnatal, norvibutinal, β-sitosterol, 7-hydroxy viteoid II, 7-hydroxy eucommic acid, jiofuran, jioglutolide, kigelin, specioside, verminoside, stigmasterol, lapachol [36]

Antibacterial and antifungal, cytotoxic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antiprotozoal, central nervous system stimulant, antidiabetic [36]

(Bignoniaceae)/Markhamia tomentosa K.Schum. (1974/SRF-Cam)

Anti-snake venom, sore eyes, heart pain, scrotal elephantiasis [37]

Leaves

Bark (5.31%)

2-acetylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione, 2-acetyl-6-methoxynaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione, oleanolic acid, pomolic acid, 3-acetylpomolic acid, tormentic acid, β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside [38]

Antimicrobial, antiprotozoal [37, 38]

Stem and leaves

Malaria [39]

Leaves, roots, stems [39]

Stem with leaves (8.13%)

Paullinoside A, paullinomides A and B, β-amyrin, 13β, 17β-dihydroxy-28-norolean-12-ene, β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol glucopyranoside [40]

Antiparasitic [39]

Poliostigma thonningii (Schum.) Milne-Readhead (Caesalpiniaceae)/(32129/HNC)

Leprosy, smallpox, coughs, wounds, ulcers [41]

bark, root, leaves [41]

Bark (13.95%)

Piliostigmin, quercetin, quercitrin, 6-C-methylquercetin 3-methyl ether, 6-C-methylquercetin 3,7,3′-trimethyl ether, 6,8-di-C-methylkaempferol 3-methyl ether, 6,8-di-C-methylkaempferol 3,7-dimethyl ether [42]

Antihelmintic, antitussive, bronchodilator, antibacterial [41]

Pseudarthria confertiflora (A. Rich.) Bak. Fabaceae)/(17465/SRF-Cam)

Typhoid fever (Personal information)

Leaves

Leaves (10.75%)

Not reported

Not reported

Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. (Bignoniaceae)/(29470/SRF-Cam)

Kidney diseases, urethra inflammation, poison, enemas, fungus skin diseases, herpes, stomachache, diarrhea [43]

Flowers, leaves, bark [43]

Bark (15.81%)

Ajugol, p-hydroxy-benzoic acid, methyl p-hydroxy-benzoate [43]

Molluscicidal, hypoglycemic, anti-HIV, anti-malarial [43]

Spilanthes filicaulis (Schum et Thonn.) C.D. (Asteraceae)/(42040/HNC)

Toothache, stomach ache, gastritis [44]

Whole plant

Whole plant (5.62%)

Not reported

Analgesic, antimicrobial [45], antiulcerogenic [46]

Stereospermum acuminatissimum K. Schum. (Bignoniaceae)/(45705/HNC)

Haemostatic, cicatrizing [47]

Leaves, barks [48]

Bark (13.15%)

1,3,7-trimethylguanin-1/3-ium, 3,7-dimethylguanin-1/3-ium, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl hentriacontanoate, sterequinones A, B, C, E, F, H, zenkequinones A, B, p-coumaric acid, methyl caffeate, caffeic acid, psilalic acid, syringaldehyde, norviburtinal, specioside, verminoside, tyrosol, eutigoside A, ellagic acid, atranorin, ursolic acid, pomolic acid, quinovic acid, oleanolic acid, triacontan-1,30-dioldiferulate, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl dotriacontanoate [47, 48]

Antiprotozoal [49]

Terminalia glaucescens Planch. (Combretaceae)/(9468/SRFCAM)

Dysentery, AIDS [50]

Bark

Bark (13.84%)

glaucinoic acid, arjunic acid, arjungenin, sericoside, friedelin [50]

Antiplasmodial, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, aldose reductase inhibition [50, 51]

  1. aPlants were identified at the Cameroon National Herbarium (HNC); ICNA: Voucher with no identification code at the HNC; bThe percentage of the methanol extract.