A REVIEW ON TRADITIONAL USES, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROFILES, SPIRITUAL AND ECONOMIC VALUES, AND TOXICITY OF DACRYODES EDULIS (G. DON) H.J. LAM.

Abstract

Since ancient times, medicinal plantshave played a key role in the management of some health problemsand in the discovery of new drugs.For many years, Dacryodes edulis(G.Don)is reported to be used by local populations ofWest and Central Africafor itsnutritionalvalues and by traditional medicine practitionersfor the treatment of many diseasesamong which:leprosy, dysentery, anaemia, spitting blood, debility, stiffness, tonsillitis, skin diseases (suchas scabies, ringworm, rash and wound), worms, ear infections, fever, headache, malaria, cephalgia, treatment ofsnakebite, jiggers, protection ofthe skin,oral hygiene and cicatrization ofwounds.Manyparts of this tree have been scientifically studied for their numeroustherapeutic activitiessuch as:antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibacterial, antimalarrial, Haemopoietic, CardiovascularandAnti-drepanocytary.Moreover, its spiritual and economic values are of great import for the local populations. No part of this planthas been mentionedto be toxic.This review study is an attempt to give a detailed survey of the literature on its traditional uses, phytoconstituents, pharmacological activities, spiritual and economic values,as well as it toxicity.