A narrative review of Myrsine melanophloeos (L.) R.Br. ex Sweet: Wild fruit species with therapeutic and nutritional relevance

Abstract

Background: Fruits of Myrsine melanophloeos (L.) R.Br. ex Sweet are edible and various organs of the species are used in traditional medicine. This study explores the traditional medicinal knowledge, and assesses the nutritional and ethnopharmacological properties of M. melanophloeos.

Methods: This study is based on literature retrieved from scientific databases such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, SpringerLink and SciELO, as well as literature obtained from pre-electronic sources such as books, book chapters and other scientific publications obtained from the university library.

Results: This research showed that the fruit pulp of M. melanophloeos is a good source of energy, classic nutrients and minerals. The crude extracts of M. melanophloeos are used as anthelmintic, emetic, expectorant, charm and ethnoveterinary medicine, and traditional medicine against diabetes, fever, fungal infections, gastro-intestinal problems, gonorrhoea, headache, muscular pain, respiratory infections, sores and wounds. The species is characterized by alkaloids, phenolics, cardiac glycosides, phlobatannins, tannins, terpenoids, saponins and flavonoids. The crude extracts of M. melanophloeos bark, leaves, fruits, shoots and twigs, and phytochemical compounds isolated from the species demonstrated alpha-amylase inhibition, anthelmintic, antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, immunomodulatory, molluscicidal, tyrosinase-inhibiting and cytotoxicity activities.

Conclusions: Myrsine melanophloeos has potential to enhance nutrition and primary healthcare of local communities in tropical Africa. Future research involving M. melanophloeos should focus on detailed nutritional, phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological evaluations of the species.

Keywords: Cape beech; materia medica; Myrsine melanophloeos; Primulaceae family; traditional ecological knowledge