African Herbal Remedies with Antioxidant Activity: A Potential Resource Base for Wound Treatment

Table 1

Medicinal plants with confirmed antioxidant activity, shown to contain compounds that are known to have such activity.

Family and plant name	Vernacular name	Plant part	Country/area	Medicinal use and/or experimental validation	Compounds isolated	Reference
Aloaceae
Aloe barbadensis Mill.	Burn plant,; siber, sbar/essouktouri /mar, sbar	Leaf exudate	Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia	Antioxidant activity.; Used as laxative, purgative, diuretic, asthma, baldness, cuts, bounds, skin rash.	Flavonoids, two dihydrocoumarin derivatives and two flavone glycosides	[32–34]
Aloe claviflora  Burch.	Kraal aloe	Leaf exudate	South Africa	Radical scavenging activity and moderate activity in the lipid peroxidation assay	Chromone glycoside	[35, 36]
A. saponaria (Ait.) Haw.	Mpelu; Mnemvu; Soap aloe, African aloe	Leaf exudate	South Africa	Radical scavenging activity and moderate activity in the lipid peroxidation assay	Chromone glycoside	[35, 37]
A. thraskii  Baker	Dune aloe, ikhala, umhlaba	Leaf exudate	South Africa	Radical scavenging activity and moderate activity in the lipid peroxidation assay	Chromone glycoside	[35, 36]
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthus caudatus L.	Tassel flower	Seed; Young shoots	Ethiopia	Antioxidant properties	Tocopherols, phenolic acids	[38–40]
Anacardiaceae
Anacardium occidentale L.	Not signalized	Stem-bark	Nigeria	Anti-inflammatory properties.	Agathisflavone, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside	[41, 42]
Lannea edulis Engl.	Wild Grape	Root-bark	Zimbabwe	Semipolar extracts high activity both as radical scavengers and lipoxygenase inhibitors. Lipophilic extracts inhibitor of 15-lipoxygenase.; Used for painful menstruation, urogenital infection, sexually transmitted diseases.	Two alkylphenols (cardonol 7 and cordonol 13) and three dihydroalkylhexenones	[43–45]
Lannea velutina A. Rich	Bemmbeyi; Raisinier velu, Lannéa velouté	Leaves, bark, root	Mali	Antioxidant properties	Proanthocyanidins	[46, 47]
Mangifera indica L.	Mango; Mangoro	Leaves, seeds,; stem-bark	Benin; Burkina Faso	Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and hypoglycemic effects.; Used to treat urogenital infection, tonic, diarrhoea, tooth ache, gingivitis, liver disease, diabetes.	Polyphenolics, flavonoids	[12, 13, 46, 47]
Apiaceae
Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.	Gotu kola	Leaves	South Africa	Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.; Used for wound healing. Protection against radiation-induced injury.; Cardio protective effect.; Oral treatment increased antioxidant enzymes.	Quercetin and tetrandrine	[48–55]
Apocynaceae
Alstonia boonei De Wild.	Awun,; Egbu	Stem-bark; Root-bark	Nigeria; Ghana	Anti-inflammatory activity.; Used for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.	Rutin, Quercetin robinobioside,; Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, Kaempferol-3-O-robinobioside	[56–59]
Catharanthus roseus; (L.) G. Don	Madagascar; periwinkle; kaka poul, karaktè dezosm blan, zèb sosyé	Whole plant	Madagascar	Antioxidant activity and ability to increase antioxidant enzymes.; Used for conjunctivitis.	Phenols	[60]
Arecaceae
Elaeis guineensis Jacq.	Ori	Nuts	Ghana; Nigeria	Anti-inflammatory activity.; Used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.	3,4 hydroxybenzaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, ferulic acid, carotenoids, α-tocopherol	[12, 61]
Asclepiadaceae
Secamone afzelii Rhoem.	Ahaban; Kroratima	Stem	Central Africa	Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.; Used for wound healing.	Flavonoids, caffeic acid derivatives and α-tocopherol.	[62–64]
Asphodelaceae
Bulbine capitata Poelln.	Scented grass bulbine	Roots; Aerial parts	South Africa	Anti-inflammatory and weak antioxidant and free radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition activities.; Knipholone as a selective inhibitor of leukotriene metabolism.; Used as a mild purgative and to cure gonorrhoeal infections.	Anthraquinone Knipholone	[65–73]
Bulbine frutescens Willd.	Snake flower, cat’s tail,; burn jelly plant	Leaf juice; Roots	South Africa	Anti-inflammatory and weak antioxidant and free radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition activities.; Knipholone is a selective inhibitor of leukotriene metabolism.; Used to treat burns, rashes, blisters, insect bites, cracked lips, acne, cold sores, mouth ulcers and areas of cracked skin.	Phenylanthraquinones,; Isofuranonaphthoquinones,; Gaboroquinones A and B and 4′-O-demethylknipholone-4′-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and Knipholone (anthroquinone)	[65, 67, 70, 74, 75]
Kniphofia foliosa Hochst.	Red-not-peker		Kenya	Anti-inflammatory and weak antioxidant and free radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition activities. Knipholone as a selective inhibitor of leukotriene metabolism.; Used for abdominal cramps, wound healing	Anthraquinone: Knipholone	[65, 76–78]
Asteraceae
Artemisia abyssinica Sch.Bip.	Chikugn (Amharic); Arrtta bera (Or)	Whole plant	Ethiopia	Radical scavenging and antioxidant activities.; Used for stomach pain and wound healing.	Essential oils and flavonoids	[79–82]
A. afra Jacq.; ex Willd.	African wormwood; Wild wormwood	Roots, stems and leaves	Ethiopia; South Africa	Radical scavenging and antioxidant activities.; Used for stomach pain, coughs, colds, fever, loss of appetite, colic, headache, earache, intestinal worms to malaria.	Essential oils and flavonoids	[79, 82–84]
A. arvensis L.	Mugwort; Wormwood	Whole plant	Algeria	Radical scavenging and antioxidant activities.	Phenolic compounds and flavonoids.	[85]
A. campestris L.	Field sagewort; Field wormwood	Whole plant	Algeria	Radical scavenging and antioxidant activities.; Used to treat insomnia	Phenolic compounds and flavonoids.	[85–87]
Bidens pilosa L.	Black jack	Leaves; Roots	South Africa	Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antihypertensive activities.; Used to treat diabetes and backache.	Phenolic compounds: quercetin 3-O-rabinobioside, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside.; Two novel methoxylated flavone glycosides: quercetin 3,3′-dimethyl ether 7-; O-c¢-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 ~ 6)-fl-D-glucopyranoside and the known quercetin 3,3′-dimethyl ether 7-O-fl-D-; glucopyranoside	[19, 88–91]
Cynara scolymus L.	Globe; artichoke	Leaves	Ethiopia	Antioxidative and lipid-lowering properties and eNOS up-regulating ability.; Used to treat chronic liver and gall bladder diseases, jaundice, hepatitis and atherosclerosis.	Polyphenolic flavonoid compounds	[14, 15, 92, 93]
Helichrysum dasyanthum Sweet	Afrikaans common name of kooigoed (bedding material)	Leaves	South Africa	Antioxidant, radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities.; Used to treat wounds, infections, respiratory conditions.	Essential oils	[94–96]
H. petiolare Hilliard & B.L. Burtt.	Everlasting, Imphepho	Leaves	South Africa	Antioxidant, radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities.; Used to treat wounds, infections, respiratory conditions, asthma, chest problems and high blood pressure	Essential oils	[94–96]
Tagetes minuta L.	Khaki bush; stinking roger; muster John Henry, wild marigold	Leaves	Madagascar	Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.; Used as anthelmintic, antispasmodic, purgative and for the treatment of gastritis, indigestion and internal worms.	Essential oils.	[23, 97]
Balanophoraceae
Thonningia sanguinea Vahl.	Nkomango	Roots	Ghana	Antioxidative and radical scavenging activities and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity.; Used for bronchial asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis and diabetes.	Ellagitannins: Thonningianin A and B	[98–103]
Balanitaceae
Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile	Hausa: aduwa; Desert date	Bark and roots	East Africa	Antioxidant properties in vitro confirmed.; The bark and roots are used as laxatives, and for colic. The bark is used for sore throats, and as a remedy for sterility, mental diseases, epilepsy, yellow fever, syphilis, and tooth aches.	Coumarins, flavonoids, saponins (Balanin 1 (3β,12β,14β,16β) cholest-5-ene-3,16-diyl bis (β-d -glucopyranoside)- 12-sulphate, a new sterol sulfonated and Balanin 2 (3β,20S,22R,25R)-26-hydroxy-22-acetoxyfurost-5-en-3- yl-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-glucopyranoside, a novel furostanol saponin)	[11, 104–106]
Bignoniaceae
Jacaranda mimosaefolia D.Don.	Sharpleaf Jacaranda	Leaves; Stem-bark	Nigeria	Shown to have antimicrobial activity and used to treat infections	Phenylethanoid glucoside, jacaranone	[107–109]
Spathodea campanulata P.Beauv.	African tulip	Stem-bark	Nigeria, Ghana,; Cameroon (Yaounde region)	Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anticomplement and anti-HIV activities.; Used to treat itching, arthritis, and diabetes.	Flavonoids and caffeic acid derivatives	[63, 110]
Tecoma stans (L.); H.B. & K.	Yellow; trumpet bush	Leaves; Stem-bark	Nigeria	Anti-diabetic activity is shown.	4-O-E-caffeoyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1′→ 3)-alpha/beta-D-glucopyranose, E/Z-acetoside, isoacetoside	[107, 111]
Capparaceae
Cleome arabica L.	Cleome efeina	Leaves	Egypt	Antioxidant activity, inhibited lipoxygenase activity and calcium ionophore-stimulated LTB4 synthesis in human neutrophils.; Used to treat wounds and prevent inflammation	Rutin and quercetin.	[112, 113]
Clusiaceae
Garcinia kola Heckel	Bitter cola/aku ilu, agbu ilu.; Nigeria; Hausa: Góórò pl. gwârráá or gòòràrràkáí	Seeds	Nigeria	Inhibit lipid peroxidation and protective against H2O2-induced DNA strand breaks and oxidized bases.; Used for laryngitis, coughs, liver disease, bronchitis and throat infections. Inhibits Aflatoxin B1 induced genotoxicity.	Biflavonoid: kolaviron	[114–120]
Harungana madagascariensis Poir.	Otori	Stem-bark	Eastern Nigeria	Significant antioxidant activity.; Used to treat skin diseases.	Prenylated Anthronoids: harunmadagascarin A [8,9-dihydroxy-4,4-bis-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-6-methyl-2,3-(2,2-dimethylpyrano)anthrone], harunganol B	[121–123]
Hypericum carinatum Griseb.	Not signalized	Leaves	Egypt	Antioxidant and radical scavenging activities.	Benzophenones: cariphenone A (6-benzoyl-5,7-dihydroxy-2,2,8-trimethyl-2H-chromene) and cariphenone B (8-benzoyl-5,7-dihydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl-2H-chromene).	[124, 125]
H. perforatum L.	Common St.-Johns’ wort	Whole plant	Egypt	Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. Free radical scavenging, metal-chelation, and reactive oxygen quenching activities. Protective against scopolamine-induced altered brain oxidative stress status and amnesia in rats. Ability to suppress the activities of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), key enzymes in the formation of proinflammatory eicosanoids from arachidonic acid (AA).; Analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, digestive, diuretic and sedative.	Flavonoids: Rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, avicularin, quercitrin, and quercetin.	[124, 126–131]
Cochlospermaceae
Cochlospermum tinctorium A.Rich.	N’tiribara	Roots	Sudan, Uganda; West Africa	Antioxidant activity.; Used for malaria, jaundice.	Polyphenols: gallotannins and ferulic acids	[35]
Combretaceae
Combretum woodii Drum.	Large-leaved forest bushwillow	Leaf	South Africa	Antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Also tannins showed inhibitory effect on Fe^2+-induced lipid peroxidation and radical scavenger activity.; Used for pneumonia, syphilis, abdominal pain and conjunctivitis.	Polyphenols: Combretastatin B5 (2′,3′4-trihydroxyl,3,5,4′-trimethoxybibenzyl).; Tannins.	[132–137]
Combretum imberbe	Not signified		South Africa	Combretum species are widely used for treating abdominal disorders (e.g. abdominal pains, diarrhea) backache, bilharziasis, chest coughs, colds, conjunctivitis, dysmenorrhoea, earache, fattening babies, fever, headache	1α,3β-dihydroxy-12-oleanen-29-oic, 1-hydroxy-12-olean-30-oic acid, 3,30-dihydroxyl-12-oleanen-22-one, and 1,3,24-trihydroxyl-12-olean-29-oic acid, a new pentacyclic triterpenoid (1α,23-dihydroxy-12-oleanen-29-oic acid-3β-O-2,4-di-acetyl-l-rhamnopyranoside)	[138]
Guiera senegalensis J.F.Gmel.	N’kundjè	Leaf	Western Africa	Antioxidant and radical scavenging activities.; Used to treat dysentery, diarrhoea, gastro-intestinal pains and disorders, rheumatism, diabetes and fever.	Flavonol aglycones, flavonol glycosides and flavonoids (catechin, myricitrin, rutin and quercetin) as well as tannins (galloylquinic acids (hydrolysable tannins).	[139–143]
Terminalia sericea Burch. ex DC.	Silver cluster-leaf	Bark	South Africa	Radical scavenging and antioxidant activities.; Used to treat diabetes and pneumonia and to relieve colic	Pentacyclic triterpenoids; Anolignan B	[21, 136, 144]
Commelinaceae
Commelina diffusa Burm.f.	Wandering Jew; Climbing day flower	Leaves	Ghanna	Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.; Used to treat fever and is diuretic	Flavonoids	[63, 145]
Palisota hirsuta K.Schum.,	Not signified	Aqueous leaf extracts	Nigeria	Anti-inflammatory effects against carrageenan induced hind paw oedema	Not identified	[146, 147]
Crassulaceae
Bryophyllum; pinnatum; (Lam.) Oken; Synonym: Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers.	Ufu ivo	Leaves	Nigeria, South Africa	Anti-inflammatory properties.; Used for earache.	Flavonoids, polyphenols, triterpenoids	[12, 148, 149]
Cupressaceae
Juniperus procera; Hochst ex. Endl.	African Juniper	Young twigs and buds	Ethiopia	Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities.; Used to relieve stomach pain.	Essental oils	[79, 150, 151]
Dioscoreaceae
Dioscorea dumetorum (Kunth) pax	Yam	Tubers	Nigeria	Antioxidant activity to modify serum lipid and anti-inflammatory activity.; Used to treat diabetes.	Dioscorea and Dioscoretine	[152–154]
Drosera madagascariensis; (DC.); D. ramentacea Burchell	Sundew	Roots and flowers	Madagascar	Anti-inflammatory effects.; Used to treat coughs and asthma	Flavonoids: hyperoside, quercetin and isoquercitrin	[155, 156]
Drosera rotundifolia L.	Round-leaf Sundew	Roots and flowers	Madagascar	Anti-inflammatory effects.; Used to treat coughs and asthma	Flavonoids: hyperoside, quercetin and isoquercitrin	[155, 157]
Euphorbiaceae
Alchornea laxiflora (Benth) Pax & K. Hoffm.	Wild banana	Leaf and root	Nigeria	Antioxidant and anti-microbial activity.; Used to treat jaundice and liver disorders. Also used in food preservation.	Quercetin-7,4′-disulphate, quercetin, quercetin-3′,4′-disulphate, quercetin-3,4′-diacetate, rutin and quercetrin	[158–161]
Bridelia ferruginea Benth.	Ora	Leaves, stem; and bark	West Africa; Democratic republic of Congo, Nigeria	Anti-inflammatory.; Used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, gastro-intestinal disorders, gynecological disorders (including sterility), and rheumatic pains.	A bioflavonoid: Gallocatechin-(4′→O →7)-Epigallocatechin.	[12, 57, 162–166]
Mallotus oppositifolius (Geiseler) Muell. Arg.	Jororo; Káfàr mútúwàà; Senampendi; Mvundza jembe	Leaves, roots	West Africa; Nigeria	Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities.; Used for abortion.	Flavonoids: quercetin and quercitrin.	[167–172]
Fabaceae
Aspalathus linearis (Brum. F.) R. Dahlgr.	Rooibos	Leaves	South Africa	Radical Scavenging Capacity; Used to treat stomach cramps, insomnia, and to reduce stress.	Phenolic Fractions, Tannins and monomeric flavonoids aspalathin, nothofagin, quercetin, rutin, isoquercitrin, orientin, isoorientin, luteolin, vitexin, isovitexin, and chrysoeriol.	[16–21, 173, 174]
Burkea africana Hook	Wild Syringa	Bark	Mali and Sub-Saharan Africa	Antioxidant and radical scavenging activity.; Used to treat coughs, colds, stomach obstruction, infusions against gonorrhoea and syphilis.	Proanthocyanidins; fisetinidol-(4alpha- >8)-catechin 3-gallate and bis-fisetinidol-(4alpha- >6, 4alpha- >8)-catechin 3-gallate, with smaller amounts of flavan-3-ols (catechin, epicatechin and fisetinidol)	[175, 176]
Crotalaria podocarpa DC.	Crotalaria	Roots	South Africa	Anti-inflammatory activity.; Used for the treatment of sore-eyes and boils.; Expectorant.	Flavonoids	[67, 177]
Cyclopia intermedia; E. Mey. and C. subternata Vog.	Honeybush	Leaves and stem	South Africa	Antioxidant activity.; Used as tonic for colds, catarrh and tuberculosis.	Pinitol, shikimic acid, p-coumaric acid, 4-glucosyltyrosol, epigallocatechin gallate, the isoflavone orobol, the flavanones hesperedin, narirutin and eriocitrin, a glycosylated flavan, the flavones luteolin, 5-deoxyluteolin and scolymoside, the xanthone mangiferin and the flavonol C-6-glucosylkaempferol.; Phenolic content: tyrosol and a methoxy analogue, 2-[4-[O-alpha-apiofuranosyl-(1′′→6′)-beta-d-glucopyranosyloxy] phenyl]ethanol, 4-[O-alpha-apiofuranosyl-(1′′→2′)-beta-d-glucopyranosyloxy]benzaldehyde, five glycosylated flavonols, two isoflavones, four flavanones, two isoflavones, and two flavones	[19, 21, 178–181]
Eriosema robustum		Twigs	Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon	Used traditionally for the treatment of coughs in East Africa and skin diseases in Central Africa	2′,3′,5′,5,7-pentahydroxy-3,40-dimethoxyflavone,; 2′,3,5′,5,7-pentahydroxy-4′-methoxyflavone	[182, 183]
Erythrina latissima; E. Mey.	Broad-leaved coral tree	Stem Wood; Root wood; Seeds	South Africa; Botswana	Antimicrobial activity and weak radical scavenging properties.; Purgative.	Flavonoids and isoflavonoids.; Isoflavones: erylatissin A and B. Flavanone: erylatissin C; and flavonoids and; Isoflavone glycosides: 4′-hydroxyisoflavone-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (compound 1); 4′-hydroxyisoflavone-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl (1→6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (compound 2); and a new compound 4′, 8-dimethoxy isoflavone-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl (1→6) glucopyranoside (8-O-methylretusin-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl (1-6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside) (compound 3) Isoflavonoids: 5,7-dihydroxy-2′,4′,5′-trimethoxyisoflavanone.	[67, 184–186]
E. lysistemon; Hutch.	Common coral tree; lucky bean tree	Bark	South Africa	Mild antioxidant activity.; Used to treat sores, wounds, abscesses and arthritis.	Three prenylated flavonoid derivatives; 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-8-(3′′′-methylbut-2′′′-enyl)-6-(2′′-hydroxy-3′′-methylbut-3′′ enyl) isoflavone (isoerysenegalensein E), 5,7,2′-trihydroxy-4′-methoxy-5′-(3′′-methylbut-2′′-enyl) isoflavanone (lysisteisoflavanone), 5, 4′-dihydroxy-6-(3′′′-methylbut-2′′′-enyl)-2′′-hydroxyisopropyl dihydrofurano [4′′,5′′:8,7] isoflavone (isosenegalensin), together with the four known flavonoids abyssinone V-4′-methylether, alpinumisoflavone, wighteone and burttinone	[187–190]
Melilotus elegans; Salzm. ex Ser.; (syn. M.; abyssinica Baker)	Egug, Gugi, Yemen berri; Elegant sweet clover	Leaves	Ethiopia	Anti-inflammatory properties.; Used for asthma, haemorrhoid, wounds, excavated sore, piles, ulcers mouth infection, lacerated wounds,; haemorrhoids, bronchial asthma (personal; communication)	Flavonoids: kaempferol	[191–194]
Millettia griffoniana; Baill.	Not signalized	Root-bark and; seeds	Cameroon	Anti-inflammatory activity.; Used as an antimalarial.	Coumarin: 4-hydroxy-3-(3′,4′-methylenedioxyphenyl)-5,6,7-trimethoxycoumarin, durmillone, odorantin, 7-methoxyebenosin, calopogonium isoflavone B and 7,2′-dimethoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxy isoflavone maximaisoflavone G (5) and 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3′,4′-methylenedioxyisoflavone and new prenylated isoflavonoids griffonianones A, B, C, D and E.Griffonianone D ((7E)-(6′′,7′′-dihydroxy-3′′,7′′-dimethyloct-2′′-enyl)oxy-4′-methoxyisoflavone), an isoflavone.	[195–202]
Parkia biglobosa; (Jacq.) Benth	African Locust Bean; Nèrè; Ojinyi	Bark; Seeds	Mali; Sudan; Ivory Coast	Anti-inflammatory activity.; Used as antiseptic and to treat coughs, chest pain, and wound healing	Tocopherol, ascorbic acid (Seeds)	[12, 33, 34, 36–39, 43–53, 55, 64, 66–72, 118, 119, 121, 138, 159, 182, 195, 203–235]
Peltophorum africanum Sond.	Weeping wttle	Root and bark	South Africa	Antioxidant and antibacterial activities; Used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, sore throat, wounds, back and joint pains, HIV-AIDS, venereal diseases and infertility.	Flavonol glycosides and flavonol glucoside gallates	[236–238]
Piliostigma thonningii; (Schum.) Milne- Redh	Camel’s foot tree, Monkey Bread; Niama (Mali).; Abefe; Kalgo; Okpoatu; Omepa	Root, bark, pods, leaves	Nigeria, Ethiopia Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia	Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.; Used to treat wounds, chronic ulcers, cough, respiratory disorders and toothache, gum inflammation, arthritis, headache, backache, and; antioxidant supplement.	Proanthocyanidins epicatechin, catechin trimers and oligomers, flavonoids, polyphenolics,; C-methylflavonols (in the leaf extract)	[12, 58, 239–245]
Sutherlandia frutescens R.Br.	Cancerbush; Phetola	Leaves	South Africa	Superoxide and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities.; Used as tonic to boost the immune system.	Canavanine, pinitol	[246–248]
Trigonella foenumgraecum L.	Fenugreek	Seeds	Ethiopia, Morocco	Protective effect against Oxidative stress during ischemia-reperfusion.; It is hypolipidemic, and is also used to treat boils and to improve appetite.	Free phenolics and Vit C.	[26–28, 249, 250]
Humiriaceae
Sacoglottis gabonensis Urb.	Cherry tree, ozouga	Stem-bark	West Africa	Antioxidant activity.	Bergenin	[251–254]
Hypoxidaceae
Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch. & C.A. Mey.	African potato	Corms	South Africa	Antioxidant activity.; Used to treat tuberculosis, cancer, bladder disorders, benign prostatic hyperplasia.	Rooperol	[188, 255–257]
Lamiaceae
Ocimum basilicum L.	Mükandu; Basil	Leaves	Burkina Faso; Ethiopia	Intermediate antioxidant activity and high antibacterial activity.; Used in Ethiopia to treat Conjunctivitis and in; Kenya to treat colds and stomacheache.	Linalool basil oil; Methyl chavicol, eugenol, (E)-methyl cinnamate, thymol, linalool	[23, 258]
Ocimum gratissimum L.	Tea bush, Scent leaf/Nchuanwu.; Ujuju okpevu; Basil	Leaves	Popular republic of Congo (ex Brazaville Congo); Eastern Nigeria	Antioxidant activity; Popular republic of Congo it is used as a laxative, purgative, and to treat snakebite, diabetes, tooth ache, gingivitis.	Xanthomicrol, cirsimaritin, rutin, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside and vicenin-2 were identified as the major flavonoids, whereas luteolin 5-O-glucoside, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, vitexin, isovitexin, quercetin 3-O-glucoside and isothymusin were detected as minor constituents.	[12, 58, 258–262]
Lauraceae
Cinnamomum zeylanicum Breyne	Cinnamon leaf	Leaves	Madagascar; Ethiopia	Very high antioxidant and high antimicrobial activities.; Used to treat diarrhoea, rheumatism, colds and hypertension	Cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and eugenyl acetate to be the main constituents of cinnamon oil.	[22–24, 263]
Ocotea bullata (Burch.) Baill.	Black stinkwood; Unukane (Zulu)	Bark	South Africa	Anti-inflammatory, cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity.; Urinary disorders, headaches.	Monoterpenoids	[188, 264]
Ravensara aromatica Sonn.	Nutmeg; havozo	Bark; Leaf	Madagascar	Low antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.; Useful for chronic respiratory conditions, and sometimes helpful in cases of asthma.	Essential oils, principally composed of the monoterpene hydrocarbons a-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, limonene, & the azulene: iso-ledene. In barks, estragole (methyl chavicol) but leaves contain b-myrcene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, and carotol.	[23, 25, 265]
Malvaceae
Hibiscus sabdariffa L.	Red tea,; sorelle; Rosella	Flowers	Nigeria; South Africa	Antimutagenic activity and free radical scavenging effects on active oxygen species; Used against insomnia, colic.	Flavonol glucoside hibiscitrin; Anthocyanins. Such as cyanidin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, cyanidin 3-O-(2-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside, delphinidin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and delphinidin 3-O-(2-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside.	[19, 21, 266–269]
Meliaceae
Trichilia roka; Chiov.	Soulafinzan	Root	Tropical Africa Mali	Significantly protective against CCl4-induced liver damage and prevented perisinusoidal fibrosis.; Used to treat malaria, abdominal pain and dermatitis.	Polyphenols	[270, 271]
Menispermaceae
Sphenocentrum jollyanum Pierre	Akerejupon; ajo	Fruit; Root	West Africa	Anti-inflammatory activity.; Used to treat inflammatory-based diseases	Furanoditerpenes: columbin, isocolumbin.; Flavonoids-rich fraction.	[272–274]
Tinospora bakis		Whole plant	Sudan	Anti-inflammatory activity. To treat headache and rheumatism	A diterpenoid furanolactone, columbin	[275]
Moraceae
Dorstenia barteri; var. subtriangularis (Engler); M.E.E.Hijman & C.C.Berg	Contrayerva	Twigs/leaves	Cameroon	Antioxidant properties account for the anti-inflammatory action of these extracts; Used to treat arthritis, rheumatism, gout, headache and other forms of body pains.	Prenylated flavonoids: Three diprenylated chalcones: bartericins A (-)-3-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-5′-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl)-4,2′,4′-trihydroxychalcone, bartericins B (+)-3-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-4′,5′-[2′′′-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-dihydrofurano]-4,2′-dihydroxychalcone and bartericins C 3,4-(6′′,6′′-dimethyldihydropyrano)-4′,5′-[2′′′,-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-dihydrofurano]-2′-hydroxychalcone and also two novel diprenylated chalcones: 3,5′-di-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl)-4,2′,4′-trihydroxychalcone, 3, 4-(2,2-dimethylpyrano)-3′-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl)-2′,4′-dihydroxychalcone, 4,2′, 4′-trihydoxy-3′-prenylchalcone and 4,2′,4′-trihydoxy-3, 3′-diprenylchalcone; and 5,7,4′-trihydoxy-8-prenylflavone.; Other known compounds such as stipulin, 4-hydroxylonchocarpin, kanzonol B, 3′-(2-Hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl)-5′-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-4,2′,4′-trihydroxychalcone, and dorstenone.	[67, 276–281]
D. ciliata Engl.	Contrayerva	Aerial parts	Cameroon; Central Africa	Antiradical and antioxidant activities.; Used as food additive.	phenolic compound (6-prenylapigenin); Flavones: (ciliatin A) 5,4′-Dihydroxy-5′′-isopropenyldihydrfuranol[2′′,3′′:7,6]flavone; (ciliatin B) 7,4′-Dihydroxy-3′-methoxy-6′′,6′′-dimethyldihydropyranol[2′′,3′′:5,6].	[282–284]
D. convexa De Wild.	Contrayerva	Twigs and; leaves	Democratic Republic of the Congo	Antioxidant properties account for the anti-inflammatory action of these extracts.; Used to treat arthritis, rheumatism, gout, headache and other forms of body pains.	Prenylated flavonoids	[67, 276, 280]
D. mannii Hook.f.	Contrayerva	Twigs/leaves; Aerial parts	Central Africa	Antioxidant action against copper-induced LDL oxidation, this activity is like the non-prenylated flavonoid quercetin. Also, inhibition of platelet aggregation and influence of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activity.; Used to treat rheumatism, stomach disorders.; Anti-trichomonal activity.	Grenylated and prenylated flavonoids and flavonones: Flavonones: 6,8-diprenyl-5,7,3′4′-tetrahydroxyflavanone, 4-hydroxylonchocarpin, 4-methoxylonchocarpin, 6-prenylchrysoeriol, 6,8-diprenyleriodictyol, gancaonin P and Prenylated flavonoids: 6,8-diprenyleriodictyol, dorsmanin C 7,8-(2,2-Dimethylchromeno)-6-geranyl-3,5,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone and dorsmanin D 6,8-Diprenyl-3,5,7,4′-tetrahydroxy-3′-methoxyflavone,; dorsmanins 1, J and 2′′-epimers of dorsmanins F (6,7-(2,2-dimethylpyrano)-8-prenyl-5,3′,4′-trihydroxyflavanone, G (6,7-(2,2-dimethyldihydro-pyrano)-8-prenyl-5,3′,4′-trihydroxflavanone). Also, dorsmanins F and G.; Four new prenylated flavanones, named dorsamine F (7,8-[2′′-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-dihydrofurano]-6-prenyl-5,3′,4′-trihydroxyflavanone), dorsmaine G (6,7-[2′′-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)dihydrofurano]-8-prenyl-5,3′,4′-trihydroxyflavanone) and dorsamine H (6-prenyl-8-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl)-5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavanone).	[67, 187, 207, 285–287]
D. poinsettifolia var. angusta Engl.	Dingetenga	Whole plant	Cameroon	Antiradical and antioxidant activities.; Used to treat infected wounds.	Grenylated and prenylated flavonoids. The unusual 4-phenyl-substituted dihydrocoumarin and the rare geranyl-and prenyl-substituted Chalcone.	[207, 288, 289]
D. psilurus Welw.	Dingetenga	Roots	Cameroon Central Africa	Antiradical and antioxidant activities.; Used against snakebite and to treat rheumatism, headache and stomach disorders.	Grenylated and prenylated flavonoids.; Three phenolic compounds: 6,8-diprenyl-3′ [O],4′-(2,2-dimethylpyrano)-3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone, 3,6-diprenyl-8-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl)-5,7,2′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone and an unusualB/C ring modified flavonoid derivative for which the names dorsilurins C, D and E, respectively, are proposed.; Two new flavones, dorsilurins A and B, and a new benzofuran derivative have been isolated from Dorstenia psilurus, together with three known phenylpropanoid derivatives, stearyl-p-coumarate [octadecanyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate], stearyl ferulate [octadecanyl 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate] and psoralen.	[206, 282, 290–292]
Myrtaceae
Eugenia elliptica Sm.; Syzygium smithii (Poir.); Nied.	Lilly Pilly	Leaves	Mauritius	Modulate the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes.	Quercetin-3-O-galactoside (hyperoside), kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), (+)-catech	[293, 294]
E. fasciculata Wall.	Not signalized	Leaves	Mauritius	Modulate the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes.	Quercetin-3-O-galactoside (hyperoside), kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), (+)-catech.; procyanidin B2 dimer and (-)-epicatechin	[293]
E. orbiculata Lam.	Not signalized	Leaves	Mauritius	Modulate the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes.	Quercetin-3-O-galactoside (hyperoside), kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), (+)-catech.; quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin),	[293, 295]
E. pollicina; J.Gueho & A.J.Scott	Not signalized	Leaves	Mauritius	Modulate the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes.	Quercetin-3-O-galactoside (hyperoside), kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), (+)-catech.; (-)-epicatechin gallate	[293, 296]
Monimiastrum acutisepalum; J. Gueho & A.J. Scott.	Not signalized	Leaves	Mauritius	Modulate the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes.	Quercetin-3-O-galactoside (hyperoside), kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin), and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin).; (+)-catechin	[293–295]
M. globosum; J.Gueho & A.J.Scott	Not signalized	Leaves	Mauritius	Modulate the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes.	Quercetin-3-O-galactoside (hyperoside), kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin), and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin).; (-)-epicatechin gallate	[293]
Syzygium aromaticum (L.); Merr. & L.M.Perry	Clove bud	Dried flowers; Buds	Madagascar; Sudan	Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.; Used to treat tooth ache and throat inflammation.	Eugenol; Methyleugenol	[23, 297, 298]
S. coriaceum; J.Bosser & J.Guého	Bois de pomme		Mauritius	Abilities to modulate the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes.	Phenols and flavonoids: Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin) and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), (+)-catechin, procyanidin B1 dimer, (-)-epicatechin gallate	[293]
S. glomeratum DC.	Bois de pomme	Leaves	Mauritius	Abilities to modulate the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes.; Used to treat boils, abscesses, fever and wounds and as expectorant.	Phenols and flavonoids: kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin) and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), procyanidin B1 dimer, (-)-epicatechin gallate, chlorogenic acid, (-)-epicatechin	[293]
S. guehoii	Not signalized		Mauritius	Abilities to modulate the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes.	Phenols and flavonoids: quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin), kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin) and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), (+)-catechin, chlorogenic acid, procyanidin B2 dimer	[293]
S. mauritianum; J.Gueho & A.J.Scott	Not signalized	Leaves	Mauritius	Abilities to modulate the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes.	Phenols and flavonoids: quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin), kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin) and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), (+)-catechin, chlorogenic acid	[293]
S. petrinense; J.Bosser & J.Guého	Not signalized		Mauritius	Abilities to modulate the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes.	Phenols and flavonoids: quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin), kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin) and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), procyanidin B1 dimer, chlorogenic acid	[293]
S. venosum (Lam.); J.Gueho & A.J.Scott	Not signalized		Mauritius	Abilities to modulate the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes.	Phenols and flavonoids: quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin), kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin) and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), (+)-catechin, procyanidin B2 dimer	[293, 295, 299]
Oleaceae
Olea europaea; subsp africana (Mill.)P.S. Green	African wild olive	Leaves	South Africa	Potent antioxidant activity.; Used as eye lotions and tonics, lower blood pressure, improve kidney function and deal with sore throats. The early Cape settlers used the fruits to treat diarrhoea	Oleuafricein (mixture of oleanolic acid and ursolic acids), Triterpenoids and oleoropein.	[84, 300, 301]
Pedaliaceae
Harpagophytum procumbens DC.; ex Meissner	Devil’s claw	Root	South Africa; Native to the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa, Namibia and; Botswana.	Anti-inflammatory and ability to inhibit the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide by suppression of NF-kappaB activation.; Used for pain, muscular tension, osteoarthritis, degenerative rheumatism or painful arthrosis and tendonitis as well as tonic for loss of appetite and dyspeptic complaints.	Roots contain iridoid glycosides mainly harpagoside.; Other constituents are flavones and flavonols kaempferol, and luteolin.	[302–312]
Piperaceae
Piper guineense; Schum. & Thonn.	West African black pepper; Bush pepper; Ikom, Amana; kakwale iyeyeh ashoesie; taquale Meshoro	Fruit, seed and leaf	Ghana, West Africa; Nigeria; Cameroon	Antioxidant activity.	Volatile oil components-monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, terpenoids, lignans and sterols.	[313–316]
Podocarpaceae
Podocarpus species; Podocarpus; elongates   Podocarpus; falcatus,; Podocarpus henkelii; and Podocarpus latifolius		Leaves and young stems	Eastern and Southern Africa	These species are used to treat fevers, asthma, coughs, cholera, chest complaints, arthritis, rheumatism, painful joints and venereal diseases	Diterpenoids, bioflavonoids and Totarol	[317]
Ranunculaceae
Nigella sativa L.	Black cumin	Seed	African countries in the Mediterranean region	Antioxidant potentials through scavenging ability of different free radicals including the superoxide anion radical, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and protection of liver against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rabbits; Used to treat diarrhoea, asthma, and as gastroprotective agent.	Oil: Thymoquinone	[29–31, 318, 319]
Rosaceae
Crataegus monogyna Jacq.	Hawthorn, May Blossom, May Day Flower, White Thorn.	Fresh vegetative and reproductive organs	Mauritius, Northern Africa	Antioxidant activities.; Used for its neuro- and cardiosedative actions.	Polyphenols: (proanthocyanidin, flavonoid, anthocyanin, (-)-epicatechin, procyanidin B2, chlorogenic acid).; Flavonoids:quercetin and quercetrin, glycosides, proanthocyanidins, anthocynaidins, saponins, tannins, and cratetegin; Also, Vitamin C.	[320–323]
Leucosidea sericea		Leaf, bark and roots	Southern Africa	Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties	Phenolics, alkaloids and saponins	[210]
Pygeum africanum Hook. f.	African plum tree; Red Stinkwood	Bark	South Africa	Anti-inflammatory.; Used to treat against benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis	14% triterpenes (urolic acids, oleanolic acid, crataegolic acid), 0.5% n-docosanol; Phytosterol (β-sitosterol, β-sitosterone, Campesterol	[188, 324–327]
Rubiaceae
Crossopteryx febrifuga Benth.	Roger Blench; “rima jogoo-hi/je”	Seeds; Leaf and roots	Mali; Nigeria	Radical scavenging and lipoxygenase inhibition activities.; Used to treat fever and various respiratory diseases	Flavonoids	[328–330]
Rutaceae
Agathosma betulina (Berg.) Pillans.	Round-leaf buchu	Leaves,; stems	South Africa	Hydroxyl radical ion scavenging ability.; Used for stomach problems, kidney and urinary track diseases.	Essential oils and flavonoids	[188, 331, 332]
A. crenulata (L.); Pillans	Oval-leaf; buchu	Leaves,; stems	South Africa	Anti-inflammatory activity.; Used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, diabetes, inflammation of the colon, gums, and mucous membranes. Leaves chewed to relieve stomach complaints.	Essential oils and flavonoids	[84, 188, 331, 332]
Fagara zanthoxyloides Lam.	xeti, xe; Wô	Roots, root-bark	Cameroon, Uganda	Antioxidant activity.; Used to treat gingivitis, toothache, urinary and venereal diseases, rheumatism and lumbago, malaria and other infections.	Phenylethanoid derivative, lignans and fagaronine	[333–336]
Sapindaceae
Dodonaea viscosa; Jacq.; Synonyms: Dodonaea angustifolia L. f.; Ptelea viscosa L.	Umusasa	Leaves	Rwanda	Anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandin (PG) E(2).; Used to treat rheumatism, skin infections, diarrhea, stomachaches, pains of hepatic and splenic origin, uterine colic. It is also used as an antipruritic in skin rashes and for the treatment of some throat, dermatitis and hemorrhoids.	Quercetin, isorhamnetin	[337–341]
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Aloe ferox Mill.	Bitter aloe or Cape aloe	Leaves	South Africa, Lesotho	A. ferox gel contains at least 130 medicinal agents with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, calming, antiseptic, antiviral, antiparasitic and anticancer effects	Chromones, anthraquinones, anthrone, anthrone-C-glycosides, and other phenolic compounds; Barbaloin	[9]
Zingiberaceae
Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf.) B.L. Burtt.	Wild ginger; Natal ginger; African Ginger	Rhizome	South Africa	Anti-inflammatory activity through cyclooxygenase inhibitory (prostaglandin-synthetase inhibition), activity.; Used to treat Coughs, colds, asthma.	Sesquiterpenoid	[188, 264, 342]