Ethnopharmacology, Antimicrobial Potency, and Phytochemistry of African <i>Combretum</i> and <i>Pteleopsis</i> Species (Combretaceae): A Review

• Main Authors: Heidi Silén (Author), Enass Y. A. Salih (Author), Eunice Ego Mgbeahuruike (Author), Pia Fyhrqvist (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/antibiotics12020264; 2079-6382
• Keywords: <i>Combretum</i>; <i>Pteleopsis</i>; antibacterial; antifungal; traditional medicine; antibiotic adjuvants; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Antibiotics, Vol 12, Iss 2, p 264 (2023)

Bacterial and fungal resistance to antibiotics is of growing global concern. Plants such as the African <i>Combretum</i> and <i>Pteleopsis</i> species, which are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of infections, could be good sources for antimicrobial extracts, drug scaffolds, and/or antibiotic adjuvants. In African countries, plant species are often used in combinations as traditional remedies. It is suggested that the plant species enhance the effects of each other in these combination treatments. Thus, the multi-species-containing herbal medications could have a good antimicrobial potency. In addition, plant extracts and compounds are known to potentiate the effects of antibiotics. The objective of this review is to compile the information on the botany, ethnopharmacology, ethnobotany, and appearance in herbal markets of African species of the genera <i>Combretum</i> and <i>Pteleopsis</i>. With this ethnobotanical information as a background, this review summarizes the information on the phytochemistry and antimicrobial potency of the extracts and their active compounds, as well as their combination effects with conventional antibiotics. The databases used for the literature search were Scopus, Elsevier, EBSCOhost, PubMed, Google Scholar, and SciFinder. In summary, a number of <i>Combretum</i> and <i>Pteleopsis</i> species were reported to display significant in vitro antibacterial and antifungal efficacy. Tannins, terpenes, flavonoids, stilbenes, and alkaloids-some of them with good antimicrobial potential-are known from species of the genera <i>Combretum</i> and <i>Pteleopsis</i>. Among the most potent antimicrobial compounds are arjunglucoside I (MIC 1.9 µg/mL) and imberbic acid (MIC 1.56 µg/mL), found in both genera and in some <i>Combretum</i> species, respectively. The in vitro antimicrobial properties of the extracts and compounds of many <i>Combretum</i> and <i>Pteleopsis</i> species support their traditional medicinal uses.