A Review of the Phytochemistry, Molecular Docking, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Ethnopharmacology, Botany, and Clinical Studies of Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Excell

Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Excell, also known as Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes, is distributed particularly in savannah regions of tropical Africa. It is used to treat malaria, tuberculosis, rheumatism and diarrhea, amongst other afflictions. The objective of this comprehensive review is to summarize studies on phytochemistry, molecular docking, pharmacology, toxicology, ethnopharmacology, botany, and clinical trials of M. senegalensis. Data on M. senegalensis were collected using different databases such as Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, SciFinder, Wiley Online, etc. This review showed that 118 biomolecules from different parts of M. senegalensis were identified. A total of 46 compounds were tested for antiplasmodial, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities, and some in vivo studies were carried out on mice. Isomintlactone (31), pristimerin (24), and jacareubin (32) were analyzed for molecular docking. The crude extracts and fractions had pharmacological activities, including antiparasitic, antimycobacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antiproliferative, and antidiabetic, while showing low toxicity in mice. Clinical trial studies on the safety and tolerability of M. senegalensis ethanol root bark extracts in male volunteers showed its potential immunomodulatory effects. Another trial specifically evaluated the electrocardiographic effects of M. senegalensis in adult volunteers and showed its advantageous cardiac profile by improving the overall safety profile.