Review Article

Ethnopharmacological Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties of Croton macrostachyus Hochst. Ex Delile: A Comprehensive Review

Table 1

Ethnomedicinal uses of Croton macrostachyus in tropical Africa.

UsePlant parts usedCountry practicedReferences

Abdominal painLeaf juice or decoction taken orallyEthiopia, Tanzania[26, 27]

Abdominal painBark decoction mixed with roots of Cucumis ficifolius A. Rich. taken orallyEthiopia[28]

AbortifacientSeeds eatenEthiopia[29, 30]

AllergiesPounded leaves rubbed on affected body partsEthiopia[20, 31]

AmoebiasisLeaf decoction taken orallyEthiopia[32]

Antidote for snake and scorpion venomBark, ground into powder and applied to affected body partEthiopia[33]

AnthraxRoot decoction taken orallyEthiopia[34]

AscariasisBark, leaf, or root decoction taken orallyEthiopia[35, 36]

Atopic eczemaLeaf decoction applied to affected body partEthiopia[20]

BackacheLeaf and root decoction taken orallyKenya[37]

Bleeding or blood coagulantAshes, bark, and leaf juice applied on affected body partEthiopia, Kenya[31, 32, 38, 39]

BloatLeaf juice taken orallyEthiopia[26]

CancerLeaf and root decoction taken orallyEthiopia, Kenya[37, 40]

Cleansing blood circulation systemLeaf decoction taken orallyKenya[41]

Cleansing digestive systemLeaf decoction taken orallyKenya[41]

ColdsLeaf decoction taken orallyKenya[41]

ConstipationFruit, leaf, or root decoction taken orallyEthiopia, Tanzania[16, 30]

CoughLeaf decoction taken orallyKenya[41]

DandruffLeaf fluid applied to the headEthiopia[42]

DiabetesRoot decoction taken orallyTanzania[43]

DiarrhoeaBark or leaf decoction taken orallyEthiopia, Kenya[4447]

DiarrhoeaLeaf decoction mixed with Trichilia spp. and Rhamnus prinoides L’Hérit. taken orallyEthiopia[48]

Dry coughLeaf or root decoction taken orallyKenya[37]

DysenteryLeaf decoction mixed with Trichilia spp. and Rhamnus prinoides L’Hérit. taken orallyEthiopia[48]

DysenteryBark, leaf decoction taken orallyEthiopia[45, 47, 49]

DysmenorrhoeaBark or leaf decoction taken orallyKenya[46]

East coast feverLeaf and root decoction taken orallyKenya[37]

EczemaLeaf decoction applied to affected body part as an ointmentEthiopia[17]

EpilepsyLeaf decoction taken orallyCameroon, Ethiopia[36, 50]

Fungal skin infectionLeaf ointment used on affected body partsEthiopia[17, 18, 20, 28, 31, 45, 47, 51]

GonorrhoeaBark, fruit, leaf, or root decoction taken orallyEthiopia[31, 3436, 52, 53]

Gum ailmentLeaf decoction rubbed on gumsEthiopia[34]

HeadacheRoot decoction rubbed on affected partUganda[54]

HemorrhageLeaf sap rubbed on affected partEthiopia[34]

HepatitisRoot decoction taken orallyEthiopia[36]

InsomniaLeaf decoction taken orallyCameroon[50]

JaundiceLeaf decoction taken orallyEthiopia[28]

LeprosySap applied on affected body partEthiopia[55, 56]

MalariaBark, leaf, or root decoction taken orally or smoke from burnt leaves inhaledEthiopia, Kenya[26, 28, 37, 44, 5559]

MalariaLeaf decoction mixed with Allium sativum L. bulb roasted with butter, allowed to brew overnight and taken orallyEthiopia[60, 61]

MeaslesFruit, leaf, or root decoction taken orallyEthiopia[55, 62]

Mosquito repellentSmoke from burnt bark or leaves repel mosquitosEthiopia[38]

ObesityLeaf and root decoction taken orallyKenya[37]

PneumoniaBark, leaf, or root decoction taken orallyCameroon, Kenya[37, 63]

Protection against witchcraftWhole plantUganda[64]

PurgativeFruit, leaf, root, or seed decoction taken orallyCameroon, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania[16, 37, 65, 66]

Retained placentaLeaf infusion taken orallyEthiopia[56]

RheumatismLeaf decoction taken orallyEthiopia[31]

RingwormBark, leaf decoction rubbed on affected body partEthiopia, Kenya, Tanzania[27, 31, 38, 46, 60, 61, 67, 68]

Skin cancerLeaf decoction applied on affected partEthiopia[67]

Skin diseasesLeaf and root decoction applied on affected body partsEthiopia, Kenya, Tanzania[27, 37, 55]

Skin diseasesFruit decoction mixed with Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J. F. Gmel. applied on affected body partsEthiopia[69]

Skin rashMixed with egg yolk and applied to the skinEthiopia[42]

Snake biteRoot decoction taken orallyEthiopia[70]

SorceryLeaf and root decoctionKenya[37]

Stomach acheBark, leaf, or root decoction taken orallyEthiopia, Uganda[34, 45, 49, 67, 71]

Struck by lightningPatient bathed with leaf, fruit, and root decoctionUganda[54]

Tape wormsBark decoction mixed with stems of Glinus lotoides L. taken orallyEthiopia[17]

Tape wormsLeaf decoction mixed with Baccharoides calvoana subsp. meridonalis (Wild) Isawumi, El-Ghazaly & B. Nord, Vernonia auriculifera Hiern, and Salvia nilotica Juss. ex Jacq. taken orallyRwanda[72]

Tape wormsBark decoction mixed with Morella salicifolia subsp. mildbraedii (Engl.) Verdc. & Polhill, Olea capensis subsp. macrocarpa (C. H. Wright) Verdc., and Elaeis guineensis Jacq. taken orallyRwanda[72]

Tape wormsBark, fruit, leaf, root, or seeds decoction taken orallyEthiopia, Tanzania, Uganda[16, 29, 34, 35, 52, 55, 71, 73]

TyphoidBark, leaf, or root decoction taken orallyCameroon, Kenya[37, 62, 74]

UlcersBark powder dressingEthiopia[17]

Venereal diseasesFruits and root decoction taken orallyEthiopia[29, 30]

WartsLeaf and twig sap applied on affected body partsKenya[68]

Weakness in pregnancyPatient tie the waist with a tree branchUganda[54]

WoundsBark, leaf, and twig sap applied directly on woundsEthiopia, Kenya, Tanzania[20, 26, 27, 32, 45, 47, 55, 67, 68]
Leaf sap mixed with coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) milk and applied on woundsEthiopia[44]
Leaf decoction mixed with Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk. and Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia (L. f.) J. G. West applied on woundsEthiopia[17]

Ethnoveterinary medicine

Abdominal painBark decoctionEthiopia[75, 76]

BlacklegLeaf decoctionEthiopia[44, 77]

BleedingLeaf decoctionEthiopia[21]

BloatBark, leaf or twig decoctionEthiopia[48, 75, 76, 78]

ColicBark decoctionEthiopia[75, 76]

ConstipationLeaf decoctionEthiopia[77]

DermatophilosisLeaf decoctionEthiopia[21]

Epilepsy in cattleLeaf decoctionEthiopia[36]

External parasitesLeaf decoction mixed with Trichilia spp. and Rhamnus prinoides L’Hérit. applied topicallyEthiopia[48]

Fever in cowsBark, leaf decoctionKenya[46]

MangeLeaf decoctionEthiopia[21]

RabiesBark decoction mixed with leaves of Juniperus procera Endl., stems of Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter, and roots of Cyphostemma cyphopetalum (Fresen.) Desc. ex Wild & Drummond, Solanum anguivi Lam., and Solanum marginatum L.Ethiopia[17]

RabiesRoot and stem bark, chewing and swallowing the juice three times a dayEthiopia[23, 35, 38, 48]

Rectum prolapseRoot decoctionEthiopia[48]

RingwormLeaf decoction applied directlyEthiopia, Kenya[21, 68, 78]

ScabiesLeaf decoctionEthiopia[21]

Skin diseases (dermatophilosis)Root decoctionEthiopia[48]

StreptothricosisLeaves pounded and applied on skin surfaceEthiopia[26]

Swelling of nose in muleLeaf decoctionEthiopia[36]

Tick prevention and controlBark, leaf, or root decoction usedKenya[79]

WartsSap applied directlyKenya[68]

WoundLeaf decoction applied directlyEthiopia, Kenya[21, 68]

Other uses

BeehivesKenya, Tanzania[16, 57]

FirewoodEthiopia, Tanzania, Uganda[16, 40, 80]

FodderUganda[80]

PesticideLeaves mixed with Nicotiana tabacuum L. used as pesticide for maize stalk borers and aphidsKenya[57]

ShadeUganda[80]

Source of nectarKenya[81]

Water pots, wood carving, tool handles, timber, stoolsCameroon, Ethiopia, Tanzania[16, 40, 63, 65]