Keywords
How to Cite
Abstract
Bolusanthus speciosus (Bolus) Harms is a deciduous and ornamental tree with its different parts used traditionally to treat various diseases. The main aim of this review is to provide an overview and critical analysis of the medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities of B. speciosus. The information presented in this study was gathered using various databases such as PubMed, Taylor and Francis imprints, Springer, NCBI, Google scholar and Science direct, and review of books, journal articles and other scientific publications kept in the university library. The articles published between 1933 and 2020 were used in this study. The bark, leaf and stem infusion of B. speciosus are mainly used for cleansing blood and as an emetic, and a traditional medicine for abdominal pains, kidney problems, sexually transmitted infections and stomach problems. Phytochemical compounds identified from the leaves, root bark, root wood, seeds and stem bark of B. speciosus include alkaloids, essential oils, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins and tannins. The biological activities exhibited by B. speciosus and the phytochemical compounds isolated from the species include anti-arthritic, antibacterial, antigonococcal, antimycobacterial, antifungal, anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Future research should focus on toxicological screening, in vivo studies and clinical trials involving the crude extracts and phytochemical compounds isolated from the species.
References
Drummond RB. A list of Rhodesian legumes. Kirkia 1972; 8(2): 209-29.
Drummond RB. A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 1975; 10: 229-85.
Mapaura A, Timberlake J. A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants. Pretoria: Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33; 2004.
Setshogo MP. Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Pretoria: Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 37; 2005.
Grant R. Sappi tree spotting: Lowveld including Kruger National Park. Johannesburg: Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd; 2007.
Da Silva MC, Izidine S, Amude AB. A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Pretoria: Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30; 2004.
Burrows JE, Burrows SM, Lötter MC, Schmidt E. Trees and shrubs of Mozambique. Cape Town: Publishing Print Matters (Pty); 2018.
Lemmens RHMJ. Bolusanthus speciosus (Bolus) Harms. In Louppe D, Oteng-Amoako AA, Brink M (Editors), Plant resources of tropical Africa 7: timbers 1. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers, 2008, pp. 115-6.
Palmer E, Pitman N. Trees of southern Africa, covering all known indigenous species in the Republic of South Africa, South-West Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Cape Town: AA Balkema; 1972.
Palgrave MC. Keith Coates Palgrave trees of southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publishers; 2002.
Steedman EC. Some trees, shrubs and lianes of southern Rhodesia. Salisbury: Rhodesian Printing and Publishing Co.; 1933.
Germishuizen G, Meyer NL. Plants of southern Africa: An annotated checklist. Pretoria: Strelitzia 14, National Botanical Institute; 2003.
Brummitt RK, et al. Leguminosae Subfamily Papilionoideae. In Timberlake JR, et al. (Eds.), Flora Zambesiaca volume 3, part 3. Richmond: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 2007, pp. 1-406.
Van Wyk B, Van Wyk P. How to identify trees in southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik Nature; 2007.
Van Wyk B, Van Wyk P. Field guide to trees of southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik Nature; 2013.
Aganga AA, et al. Significance of browses in the nutrition of Tswana goats. Arch Zootec 2000; 49: 469-80.
Chavunduka GL, Mashava PN. Isolation of naturally occurring isoflavanone and some clinical uses thereof. PCT/AP96/00002, issued April, 1996.
Liengme CA. Plants used by the Tsonga people of Gazankulu. Bothalia 1981; 13: 501-18. https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v13i3/4.1357
Luseba D, Tshisikhawe MP. Medicinal plants used in the treatment of livestock diseases in Vhembe region, Limpopo province, South Africa. J Med Plants Res 2013; 7(10): 593-601.
Amusan OOG. Ethical and environmental issues in bioprospecting for drugs through traditional medicine: The case of Swaziland. Afr J Plant Sci Biotechnol 2008; 2(1): 1-9.
Gelfand M, et al. The traditional medical practitioner in Zimbabwe: His principles of practice and pharmacopoeia. Gweru: Mambo Press; 1985.
Amusan OOG, et al. Some herbal remedies from Manzini region of Swaziland. J Ethnopharmacol 2002; 79: 109-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(01)00381-6
Klapwijk N. Bolusanthus speciosus. National Botanical Garden, Pretoria; 2003. Available from: http://pza.sanbi.org/bolusanthus-speciosus, accessed on 21 May 2020.
Long C. Swaziland’s flora: siSwati names and uses. Mbambane, Swaziland: Swaziland National Trust Commission; 2005. Available at: http://www.sntc.org.sz/ index.asp, accessed on 14 February 2020.
Amusan OOG. Herbal medicine in Swaziland: An overview. In Juliani HR, Simon JE, Ho C-T (Eds.), African natural plant products: New discoveries and challenges in chemistry and quality. Washington DC: American Chemical Society; 2010, pp. 31-49. https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2009-1021.ch003
Venter F, Venter J-A. Making the most of indigenous trees. Pretoria: Briza Publications; 2015.
Schmidt E, Lotter M, McCleland W. Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Johannesburg: Jacana Media; 2017.
Mabogo NED. The ethnobotany of the Vhavenda. MSc Dissertation. Pretoria: University of Pretoria; 1990.
Mulaudzi RB, et al. Antimicrobial properties and phenolic contents of medicinal plants used by the Venda people for conditions related to venereal diseases. J Ethnopharmacol 2011; 135: 330-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.03.022
Vambe M, et al. Antibacterial screening, synergy studies and phenolic content of seven South African medicinal plants against drug-sensitive and -resistant microbial strains. S Afr J Bot 2018: 114: 250-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2017.11.011
Loffler L, Loffler P. Swaziland tree atlas: Including selected shrubs and climbers. Pretoria: Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 38; 2005.
Asres K, et al. Isoflavanoids from Bolusanthus speciosus (Bolus) Harms Leguminosae. Z Naturforsch 1985; 40C: 617-20. https://doi.org/10.1515/znc-1985-9-1005
Asres K, Phillipson JD, Mascagani P. Alkaloids of Bolusanthus speciosus. Phytochem 1986; 25: 1449-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81307-2
Bojase G, Wanjala CCW, Majinda RRT. Flavonoids from the stem bark of Bolusanthus speciosus. Phytochem 2001; 56: 837-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00009-7
Bojase G, Wanjala CCW, Majinda RRT. Two new isoflavonoids from Bolusanthus speciosus. Bull Chem Soc Ethiop 2001; 15: 131-6.
Bojase G, et al. Antimicrobial flavonoids from Bolusanthus speciosus. Planta Med 2002; 68(7): 615-20. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2002-32910
Erasto P, Bojase-Moleta G, Majinda RRT. Antimicrobial and antioxidant flavonoids from the root wood of Bolusanthus speciosus. Phytochem 2004; 65: 875-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2004.02.011
Mtunzi F, et al. GC-MS analysis of hexane extract of Bolusanthus speciosus stem bark. Asian J Plant Sci Res 2013; 3(2): 27-30.
Elisha IL, et al. The anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity and relationships with total phenolics and total flavonoids of nine South African plants used traditionally to treat arthritis. BMC Compl Alt Med 2016; 16: 307. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1301-z
Elisha IL, et al. The efficacy and safety of nine South African medicinal plants in controlling Bacillus anthracis Sterne vaccine strain. BMC Compl Alt Med 2016; 16: 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-015-0980-1
Elisha IL, et al. Potency and selectivity indices of acetone leaf extracts of nine selected South African trees against six opportunistic Enterobacteriaceae isolates from commercial chicken eggs. BMC Compl Alt Med 2017; 17: 90. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1597-3
Elisha IL, et al. The antibacterial activity of extracts of nine plant species with good activity against Escherichia coli against five other bacteria and cytotoxicity of extracts. BMC Compl Alt Med 2017; 17: 133. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1645-z
Elisha IL, et al. Acetone leaf extracts of some South African trees with high activity against Escherichia coli also have good antimycobacterial activity and selectivity index. BMC Compl Alt Med 2017; 17: 327. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1831-z
Mulaudzi RB, et al. Anti-inflammatory and mutagenic evaluation of medicinal plants used by Venda people against venereal and related diseases. J Ethnopharmacol 2013; 146: 173-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.12.026