article · Clinical Traditional Medicine and Pharmacology
This review consolidates research on thirty-two Commiphora plant species native to Tanzania, categorising them by their geographic distribution as transgressing, trans-bordering, or endemic. Nineteen of these species possess recorded ethnomedicinal applications, while plant exudates also demonstrate commercial value for use as chewing gums. Pharmacological assessments show that extracts from these plants hold antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and anticancer properties. Phytochemical profiling reveals species-specific compounds, such as flavonoids, furanosesquiterpenoids, and cholesterol-like structures, particularly when obtained using medium-polar extraction solvents like chloroform or dichloromethane. Although Commiphora swynnertonii is the most extensively studied species in Tanzania, endemic species remain largely uninvestigated, with only Commiphora madagascariensis assessed for non-medicinal uses. Overall, the gathered evidence highlights the therapeutic potential of these plants while indicating a clear need for further targeted research.
Medicinal plants provide a crucial foundation for discovering new treatments against cancer, bacterial infections, and parasites. By mapping the chemical profiles and traditional uses of native Tanzanian Commiphora species, this work highlights neglected local plants that could yield novel therapeutic molecules, helping direct future laboratory testing and drug development efforts towards the most promising natural candidates.
The findings are relevant to pharmaceutical and natural product developers seeking leads for antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and anticancer treatments, as well as businesses trading plant exudates for commercial chewing gum. This research sits at an early discovery stage, reviewing laboratory and traditional evidence to identify promising species and extraction methods rather than presenting clinically tested products.
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• Distribution of endemic , trans-bordering and transgressing Commiphora species. • Ethnomedicinal uses reveal disease-fighting capacity. • Pharmacological indicates antimicrobial, antiparasitic and anticancer. • Phytochemistry show some species-specific terpenoids and flavonoids. : The genus Commiphora is recognized as one of the most diverse genera within the Burseraceae family. It is mostly found in regions characterized by arid or semi-arid climates. Objective : The current narrative review appraises information on Commiphora species native to Tanzania, paving the way for further drug research and development exploration. : All relevant published research on Commiphora species from all years up to 2024 was considered. Electronic databases such as Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, Science Direct, SciFinder, ChemFinder and Google Scholar, herbaria, and recent publications provided information on Tanzanian Commiphora species' distribution, ethnomedicinal, pharmacology, and phytochemistry. This review categorizes 32 Tanzanian Commiphora species by distribution as transgressing (20), trans-bordering (5), or endemic (7). Among those, some Commiphora species (11) were mentioned only for their distribution range, while 19 species have been ethnomedicinally used. C. madagascariensis has been the only endemic species studied. The diverse ethnomedicinal uses of transgressing Commiphora species by local communities and commercial value of exudates as chewing gums show their potential as bioactive agents for the management of cancer, bacteria, and ectoparasites. C. swynnertonii is the most researched species in Tanzania, while worldwide, C. kua, C. africana, C. pedunculata, C. mollis, C. emenii, and C. glandulosa are the most researched. Some compounds in the genus Commiphora portray species-specific chemo-type structures. Flavonoids from C. pedunculata, C. molis and C. Africana ; furanosesquiterpenoids from C. swynnertonii and C. kataf and cholesterol structures from C. emenii, C. swynnertonii and C. merkeri. Such structures remain valuable candidates for drug discovery. : This narrative review indicates no endemic species have been extensively investigated except for non-medicinal uses of C. madagascariensis . However, some trans-boundering and transgressing stem extracts and exudates of Commiphora species provided safe and active compounds, especially when extracted with medium polar solvents such as chloroform or dichloromethane, making them valuable agents for drug discovery and trade purposes. Therefore, additional investigations are required.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.ctmp.2025.200254
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