Review Article: Medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicological properties of Elaeodendron croceum

Elaeodendron croceum is a shrub or a small tree used as an emetic, purgative and herbal medicine for cough, sore throat, fever, tuberculosis, blood in sputum, chest congestion, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) opportunistic infections and to clean the digestive tract. Phytochemical compounds identified from the species include alkaloids, cardiac glucoside, flavonoids, phenols, proanthocyanidins, saponins, sugars, tannins and triterpenoids. Pharmacological studies revealed that E. croceum extracts and compounds have antimycobacterial, anti-arthritic, antibacterial, anti-HIV, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and cytotoxicity activities. Future studies should focus on ethnopharmacological safety and efficacy of E. croceum extracts and compounds isolated from the species using in vivo preclinical studies and clinical trials.