A mini-review on the pharmacognosy and phytochemistry of a tropical medicinal plant: Annona senegalensis Pers. (Annonaceae)

Abstract

The aim of this mini-review was to collect data obtained from various studies carried out by different authors concerning the phytochemistry and pharmacognosy of Annona senegalensis (Annonaceae). This review has been compiled using references from major databases such as PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct and Google scholars. An extensive survey of literature revealed that A. senegalensis is a good source of health promoting secondary metabolites such as terpenoic acids (kaurenoic acid) among others that could have many wonderful applications (like antisickling properties).Traditionally, the plant is used as stimulant, pain reliever etc. whereas the plant possess beneficial effects such as anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, Antidiarrheal, anti-inflamatory, anti-parasitic, anticonvulsant, antimalarial, anti-trypanosomal, antisnake venom and Antinociceptive and many other medicinal properties. The results of the present review of literature makes A. senegalensis an interesting candidate for advanced anti-sickle cell anemia investigations such as erythroid differentiation and fetal hemoglobin induction effects of this plant using K562 cell lines as model system.