Institute of Chemistry, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3A, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
Institute of Chemistry, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3A, 18059 Rostock, Germany; Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, 38655 Oxford, Mississippi, USA.
Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2014 Jan;7(1):1-8. doi: 10.1016/S1995-7645(13)60182-0.
Picralima nitida Durand and Hook, (fam. Apocynaceae) is a West African plant with varied applications in African folk medicine. Various parts of the plant have been employed ethnomedicinally as remedy for fever, hypertension, jaundice, dysmenorrheal, gastrointestinal disorders and malaria. In order to reveal its full pharmacological and therapeutic potentials, the present review focuses on the current medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological and toxicological activities of this species. Literature survey on scientific journals, books as well as electronic sources have shown the isolation of alkaloids, tannins, polyphenols and steroids from different parts of the plant, pharmacological studies revealed that the extract or isolated compounds from this species posses analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hypoglyceamic, hypotensive, antiplasmodial, antimicrobial, antiulcer and antitumorigenic activities. Results from various scientific investigations to date have revealed the potential of the extract from the plant or isolated compounds for use in the treatment and prevention of various kinds of human diseases. However, further studies on the extracts and pure compounds from this species is required to completely assess its phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological profile as well as the mechanism of action behind these pharmacological activities exhibited by the compounds isolated from this species.
非洲秀丽娃儿藤（学名：Picralima nitida Durand & Hook.），夹竹桃科秀丽娃儿藤属植物，主要分布于非洲西部，在当地民间医学中具有多种用途。该植物的不同部位被用于治疗发热、高血压、黄疸、痛经、胃肠道疾病和疟疾。为了揭示其全部的药理学和治疗潜力，本综述重点介绍了该物种的当前药用用途、植物化学、药理学和毒理学活性。对科学期刊、书籍和电子资源的文献调查表明，从该植物的不同部位分离出了生物碱、单宁、多酚和类固醇，药理学研究表明，该物种的提取物或分离化合物具有镇痛、抗炎、降血糖、降压、抗疟原虫、抗菌、抗溃疡和抗肿瘤活性。迄今为止，各种科学研究的结果表明，该植物的提取物或分离化合物具有用于治疗和预防各种人类疾病的潜力。然而，需要进一步研究该物种的提取物和纯化合物，以全面评估其植物化学、药理学和毒理学特征，以及从该物种中分离出的化合物所表现出的这些药理学活性的作用机制。
