Title:Comprehensive Review of the Ethnomedicinal Uses, Pharmacological Effects and Flavonoids of Tephrosia species.
Volume: 10
Author(s): Douglas Kemboi*, Veronica Ngyema and Jacqueline Vuyelwa Tembu
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kabianga, Kericho, 2030, Kenya
- Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
Keywords:
Ethnomedicinal uses, flavonoids, Genus Tephrosia, pharmacological effects, compounds, diseases
Abstract: Tephrosia is one of the largest genera in the Leguminosae (Fabaceae) family, with a
wide range of distribution in temperate and tropical climates. This review examines the literature
from 2000 to 2021 and focuses on medicinal uses, pharmacological research, and flavonoids extracted
from Tephrosia species. The review also highlights existing knowledge gaps in Tephrosia
species research, which could help speed up future studies aiming at discovering lead chemicals
from these species. Tephrosia species are used as pesticides, animal feed additions, and to
improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. Furthermore, Tephrosia species are frequently
used in traditional medicine to treat ailments such as gastro-duodenal disorders, chest pains,
chronic diarrhoea, inflammatory disorders, skin disorders, wounds, dysmenorrhea, asthma, elephantiasis,
haemorrhoids, and bronchitis. Several recent pharmacological studies have established
their efficacy as anti-plasmodium, anti-cancer, anti-protozoal, antibacterial, antifungal,
and anti-insecticidal drugs. Furthermore, flavonoids isolated from these species have been proven
to exhibit anti-plasmodia, anticancer, and anti-insecticidal properties, supporting the majority
of Tephrosia species' traditional applications. Over 140 flavonoids have been identified and isolated
from approximately 25 Tephrosia species to date. The majority of the isolated flavonoids
have O-substituted, C-methylated, or prenylated patterns and are flavonol, chalcone, flavone, or
flavanone. Notably, some of the flavonoids with unique skeletal structures were discovered for
the first time in the species. Most of the reported biological activity, however, requires further
testing against a wide range of diseases, though they can be recommended as possible promising
compounds.
