Skip to main content

Medicinal Plant Research in Africa

Pharmacology and Chemistry

The pharmacopoeias of most African countries are available and contain an impressive number of medicinal plants used for various therapeutic purposes. Many African scholars have… Read more

World Book Day celebration

Where learning shapes lives

Up to 25% off trusted resources that support research, study, and discovery.

Description

The pharmacopoeias of most African countries are available and contain an impressive number of medicinal plants used for various therapeutic purposes. Many African scholars have distinguished themselves in the fields of organic chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacognosy and other areas related to the study of plant medicinal plants. However, until now, there is no global standard book on the nature and specificity of chemicals isolated in African medicinal plants, as well as a book bringing together and discussing the main bioactive metabolites of these plants. This book explores the essence of natural substances from African medicinal plants and their pharmacological potential. In light of possible academic use, this book also scans the bulk of African medicinal plants extract having promising pharmacological activities.

Key features

  • The book contains data of biologically active plants of Africa, plant occurring compounds and synthesis pathways of secondary metabolites
  • This book explores the essence of natural substances from African medicinal plants and their pharmacological potential
  • The authors are world reknowned African Scientists

Readership

Students and scientists in the field of Chemistry, phytochemistry, pharmacology, medicine, pharmacognosy, pharmaceutical biology

Table of contents

About the Editor

Preface

List of Contributors

1. Monoterpenes and Related Compounds from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Biosynthesis and Structural Diversity

1.3 Monoterpenes Isolated from African Medicinal Plants and Their Pharmacological Activities

1.4 New Monoterpenes Isolated in African Medicinal Plants

1.5 Other Monoterpenes in African Medicinal Plants

1.6 Conclusion

References

2. Sesquiterpenes from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Biosynthesis and Structural Diversity

2.3 Pharmacological Activities of Sesquiterpenes Isolated from African Medicinal Plants

2.4 New Sesquiterpenes Isolated from Medicinal Plants of Africa

2.5 Other Sesquiterpenes in Medicinal Plants of Africa

2.6 Conclusion

References

3. Diterpenoids from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Biosynthesis and Structural Diversity

3.3 Nomenclature and Identification of Diterpenoids

3.4 Pharmacological Activities of Diterpenoids Isolated from African Medicinal Plants

3.5 Conclusions

References

4. Triterpenes and Steroids from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Biosynthesis and Structural Diversity

4.3 Phytochemical Detection of Triterpenoids and NMR Identification

4.4 Nomenclature of Triterpenoids

4.5 New Triterpenoids Isolated from African Medicinal Plants

4.6 Triterpene and Steroids Isolated from African Medicinal Plants and Their Pharmacological Activities

4.7 Other Triterpenoids from African Medicinal Plants

4.8 Conclusions

References

5. Essential Oils from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Classification of Essential Oils

5.3 Chemical Composition of Essential Oils

5.4 Biological Activity of Essential Oils from African Medicinal Plants

5.5 Conclusion

References

6. Simple Phenols, Phenolic Acids, and Related Esters from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Biosynthesis of Phenolic Compounds and Structural Diversity

6.3 Simple Phenols, Phenolic Acids, and Related Ethers Isolated from African Medicinal Plants and Their Pharmacological Activities

6.4 New Simple Phenols, Phenolic Acids, and Related Ethers Isolated in African Medicinal Plants

6.5 Other Simple Phenols, Phenolic Acids, and Related Ethers in African Medicinal Plants

6.6 Conclusions

References

7. Phenylpropanoids and Related Compounds from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Biosynthesis of Phenylpropanoids and Structural Diversity

7.3 Phenylpropanoids Isolated from African Medicinal Plants and Their Pharmacological Activity

7.4 New Phenylpropanoids Isolated in African Medicinal Plants

7.5 Conclusion

References

8. Coumarins and Related Compounds from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Biosynthesis and Structural Diversity

8.3 Detection of Coumarin in Plant Extracts

8.4 Pharmacological Activity of Coumarins Isolated from African Medicinal Plants

8.5 New Coumarins Isolated in African Medicinal Plants

8.6 Other Coumarins in African Medicinal Plants

8.7 Coumarin-Related Compounds from African Medicinal Plants

8.8 Conclusion

References

9. Flavonoids and Related Compounds from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Biosynthesis and Structural Diversity

9.3 Characterization of Flavonoids in Plant Extracts

9.4 Pharmacological Activities of Flavonoids and Related Compounds Isolated from African Medicinal Plants

9.5 Flavonoids and Related Compounds Newly Identified in African Medicinal Plants

9.6 Conclusions

References

10. Quinones and Benzophenones from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Biosynthesis and Structural Diversity

10.3 Quinones and Benzophenones Isolated from African Medicinal Plants

10.4 Benzophenones Identified in African Medicinal Plants

10.5 Structural Elucidation of Quinones

10.6 Conclusion

References

11. Xanthones and Anthranoids from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Biosynthesis and Structural Diversity

11.3 Characterization of Xanthones and Anthrones in Plants

11.4 Xanthones Isolated from African Medicinal Plants and Their Pharmacological Activities

11.5 Pharmacological Activities of Anthrones Identified in African Medicinal Plants

11.6 Some Particular Aspects of New Xanthones Isolated in African Medicinal Plants

11.7 Other Xanthones Identified in African Medicinal Plants

11.8 Conclusion

References

12. Lignans and Stilbenes from African Medicinal Plants

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Biosynthesis of Lignans and Stilbenes

12.3 Diversity of Lignans and Stilbenes

12.4 Pharmacological Activity of Lignans and Stilbenes Isolated from African Medicinal Plants

12.5 New Lignans with Undefined Pharmacological Activity Isolated in African Medicinal Plants

12.6 Stilbenes from African Medicinal Plants with Undefined Pharmacological Activity

12.7 Other Lignans Identified in African Medicinal Plants

Conclusion

References

13. Tannins and Related Compounds from Medicinal Plants of Africa

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Biosynthesis and Structural Diversity

13.3 Pharmacological Activity of Tannins and Their Monomers Isolated from African Medicinal Plants

13.4 New Tannins Isolated in African Medicinal Plants

13.5 Other Tannins or Tannin Monomers from African Medicinal Plants

References

14. Alkaloids from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Biosynthesis and Structural Diversity

14.3 Detection of Alkaloids

14.4 Pharmacological Activity of Alkaloids Isolated from African Medicinal Plants

14.5 Some Particular Aspects of New Alkaloids Isolated in African Medicinal Plants

14.6 Conclusion

References

15. Ceramides, Cerebrosides, and Related Long Chains Containing Derivatives from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Biosynthesis and Structural Diversity

15.3 Structure Elucidation and Nomenclature of Ceramides

15.4 Pharmacological Activity of Ceramides and Cerebrosides Isolated from African Medicinal Plants

15.5 New Ceramides and Cerebrosides Isolated in African Medicinal Plants

15.6 Conclusions

References

16. Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Antiviral Activities of African Medicinal Plants

16.1 Introduction

16.2 Distribution and Diversity

16.3 Antibacterial Activity

16.4 Antifungal Activity

16.5 Antiviral Activity

16.6 Concluding Remarks

Acknowledgment

References

17. Antimalarial and Other Antiprotozoal Products from African Medicinal Plants

17.1 Introduction

17.2 The Costs of Malaria and Other Protozoan Diseases to the African Population

17.3 Pharmacological Activity of Medicinal Plants

17.4 Antiprotozoal Herbal Medicine from African Medicinal Plants: Clinical Safety and Efficacy Research

17.5 The Way Forward

17.6 Conclusion

References

18. Antiproliferative Potential of African Medicinal Plants

18.1 Introduction

18.2 Cancer Concern in Africa

18.3 Cytotoxicity of African Medicinal Plants

18.4 Mechanistic Studies with Cytotoxic Natural Products of African Medicinal Plants

18.5 Conclusions

References

19. Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of African Medicinal Plants

19.1 Introduction

19.2 Medicinal Plants with Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities

19.3 Conclusion

References

20. Antidiabetes Activity of African Medicinal Plants

20.1 Introduction

20.2 Diabetes Worldwide and in Africa

20.3 Pharmacological Activities of Medicinal Plants

20.4 Conclusion

References

21. Antioxidant Activity of African Medicinal Plants

21.1 Introduction

21.2 Sources of Antioxidants

21.3 African Medicinal Plants with Antioxidant Potential

21.4 Conclusions

References

22. African Medicinal Plants Acting on the Reproductive, Cardiovascular, and Central Nervous Systems

22.1 Introduction

22.2 African Traditional Medicine

22.3 Pharmacological Activities of Medicinal Plants

22.4 Conclusion

References

23. Legislation on Medicinal Plants in Africa

23.1 Introduction

23.2 The Status of Medicinal Plants in Some African Countries

23.3 Legislation in the Areas of Medicinal Plants

23.4 Conclusions

References

24. Medicinal Plants Market and Industry in Africa

24.1 Introduction

24.2 Current Status and Trend in Medicinal Plant Resources in Africa

24.3 Trade and Marketing

24.4 Phytopharmaceutical Manufacturing Companies

24.5 Supply of Medicinal Plants in Africa

24.6 Overview of Local Trade in Some Selected African Countries

24.7 Medicinal Plant Products Industry and Manufacturing

24.8 Conclusions

References

Review quotes

"...a felicitous overview that is well represented and destined to boost well deserved interest in African medicinal plant research."—Herbalgram, May-July 2014

Product details

About the editor

VK

Victor Kuete

Professor Victor Kuete is a scholar scientist at the University of Dschang, Cameroon. He has been a fellow of The Third World Academy of Science (TWAS; University of Pretoria, South Africa) in 2007, the French-speaking Countries’ Organization (AUF; University of Marseille, France in 2008, The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD; University of Mainz-Germany) in 2009, the University of Mainz-Germany (in 2010), Alexander von Humboldt fellow (University of Mainz-Germany) from 2012-2014, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK; Eskisehir) in 2015. He has also been the grantee of The Alexander von Humboldt (2015-2018) and The International Foundation for Science (2008-2009; 2012-2013). His Research Program is focused on Pharmacognosy, and he mainly investigates African medicinal plants, phytochemicals isolated from medicinal plants such as terpenoids, phenolics, and alkaloids as well as synthetics, as potential antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-cancer agents. He has a Google Scholar Hirsch index (h-index) of 84 (more than 18,000 citations; 2024) and is the author of >500 Scientific publications including several books and book chapters related to Medicinal Chemistry. Prof. Victor Kuete is the Editor-In-Chief of Investigational Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, Associate Editor of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Section Editor of BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Associate Editor of Evidenced-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Editorial board member of Phytomedicine and several other journals. He has been recognized as the best Cameroon Scientist in 2022 and 2023 and is amongst the most renowned African Scientists by the AD Scientific Ranking for Scientists.

Affiliations and expertise
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon

View book on ScienceDirect

Read Medicinal Plant Research in Africa on ScienceDirect