Zanha golungensis Hiern (Sapindaceae): review of its botany, medicinal uses and biological activities

• Published in: Journal of pharmaceutical sciences and research 2019-10, Vol.11 (10), p.3440-3444
• Main Author: Maroyi, Alfred
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analgesics; Botany; Flowers & plants; Fruits; Herbal medicine; Leaves; Medicine; Names; Plant sciences; Timber; Trees
• ISSN: 0975-1459

Family Sapindaceae consists of 138 genera and about 2000 accepted species.1,2 These species are mostly trees, treelets, shrubs, lianas or herbaceous climbers characterized by multiple vascular cylinders growing in tropical, subtropical and sub-temperate areas.3 Some species of the Sapindaceae family are characterized by natural products such as saponins, flavonoids, triterpenes, caffeine, xanthenes, cathequines and cyanolipids.4-12 Cyanolipids are known to exhibit a potential hazard to humans and animals but may have a protective physiological role.2 Some species of the Sapindaceae family are characterized by antimalarial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antimigrane, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic, anti-cancer, antiolytic, analgesic, antitrichomonas, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, insecticidal, molluscicidal, piscicidal and spermacidal properties.2,12-21 Members of the Sapindaceae family are regarded as important plant resources in West Africa due to their multiple uses as food plants and herbal medicines.22 Several species of Sapindaceae that are of economic importance such as fruit trees or herbal medicines such as Blighia sapida K.D. Koenig are known to be highly toxic when eaten unripe23 and species of Paullinia L. have been reported to be useful in the preparation of fish, human and arrow poisoning.24,25 Zanha Hiern is a genus of three species confined to east, central and southern Africa and Madagascar.3,26-41 The fruits of all the three Zanha species are edible3,42-48 but their seeds contain acid saponin which is believed to be poisonous if swallowed.45,46 Zanha golungensis is a multipurpose tree species used as a source of edible fruits, timber for construction, household furniture, agricultural implements and also widely collected as firewood and herbal medicine.45 The fruits of Z. golungensis are eaten by both humans and animals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Togo and Uganda.42,44,49-53 Zanha golungensis is categorized as a multipurpose tree species in Mozambique and a priority for conservation.54 Similarly, Z. golungensis is categorized as a multipurpose species in Tanzania43,55 and Uganda where it is used as a source of timber and herbal medicines, and in need of conservation as it is over-exploited.56 Zanha golungensis is threatened with extinction in Benin57 mainly due to over-exploitation as herbal medicine58,59 and firewood.60 Zanha golungensis is an important medicinal plant in tropical Africa61-63 and its leaves are