A Review of the Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Terminalia mollis M.A. Lawson (Combretaceae).

A comprehensive review of published information on ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of <i>Terminalia mollis</i> M.A. Lawson, a medium-sized to large deciduous tree, is presented. This study revealed that <i>T. mollis</i> is used as ethnoveterinary medicine and traditional medicine against sexually transmitted infections, respiratory infections, gastrointestinal problems, bilharzia, malaria, haemorrhoids, abdominal pains, measles, jaundice, cryptococcal meningitis and back pain. Phytochemical research identified flavonoids, polyphenols, ellagitannin, pentacyclic triterpenoids, trihydroxybenzoic acid, tannins, steroids, saponins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides and anthocyanins from leaves and root bark of <i>T. mollis</i>. Ethnopharmacological research revealed that the phytochemical compounds isolated from <i>T. mollis</i> and crude extracts of the species showed antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antimycoplasmal, antifungal, antiviral, anticonvulsant, antileishmanial, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, antitrypanosomal and cytotoxicity activities. Since <i>T. mollis</i> extracts are widely used as sources of traditional medicines, there is a need for extensive phytochemical, pharmacological, toxicological evaluations, <i>in vivo</i> and clinical studies.