An overview on Leucosidea sericea Eckl. & Zeyh.: A multi-purpose tree with potential as a phytomedicine.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Leucosidea sericea (the sole species in this genus) is a tree species found in southern Africa and possesses several therapeutical effects against infectious diseases in humans and livestock. This review aims to document and summarize the botany, phytochemical and biological properties of Leucosidea sericea.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Using the term 'Leucosidea sericea', we systematically searched literature including library catalogues, academic dissertations and databases such as PubMed, SciFinder, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Wanfang. Taxonomy of the species was validated using 'The Plant List' (www.theplantlist.org).


RESULTS
Leucosidea sericea remains a widely used species among the different ethnic groups in southern Africa. The species is a rich source of approximately 50 essential oils and different classes of phytochemicals (phenolics, phloroglucinols, cholestane triterpenoids, alkaloids and saponins) which may account for their diverse biological properties. Documented biological activities which were mainly observed under in vitro systems included antimicrobial, anti-parasitic, antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and anti-inflammatory properties. Preliminary safety tests on Leucosidea sericea extracts suggest moderate cytotoxic effects based on a few cell lines that were investigated.


CONCLUSIONS
Leucosidea sericea possesses diverse medicinal potential with the antimicrobial, anti-parasitic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities being the most prominent. The relative abundance and tendency of Leucosidea sericea to evade in nature suggest an abundant reservoir of raw materials for potential commercialization (upon validation of its pharmacological potential). However, more stringent investigations on the extracts (and isolated bioactive compounds) focusing on the mode of actions, which will inevitably unravel their pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical relevance remain pertinent.
['Mafole|Tshepiso C|TC|', 'Aremu|Adeyemi O|AO|', 'Mthethwa|Thandekile|T|', 'Moyo|Mack|M|']
D000353:Africa, Southern D000818:Animals D020834:Ethnopharmacology D006801:Humans D008519:Medicine, Traditional D008517:Phytotherapy D010936:Plant Extracts D027824:Rosaceae
Essential oil Antimicrobial Antioxidants Anti-inflammatory Natural product Rosaceae Toxicology