Phytochemistry, pharmacology and medicinal uses ofCola(Malvaceae) family: a review

Colabelongs to the family Malvaceae and contains 125Colaplants. Among theColaspecies,Cola acuminataandCola nitidaare the most studied for their pharmacology effects.Colacontains phytochemicals such as alkaloids, caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, purine, (-)-epicatechin, (+)-catechin, sterols, anthraquinones, flavonoid glycosides, cardenolides, tannins, rostratanic acid, bauerenol, lupeol, acotatarone A, lignoceric acid, betulinic acid, friedelanone, friedelan, stigmasterol, and nonanedioc acid, among others. These secondary metabolites are responsible for the various pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antiviral, anticancer, antimycobacterium, and antiatherosclerotic and hypolipidaemic. Economically,Colahas been used in both manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries to produce energy drinks, flavoring agents, wine, chocolates, animal feeds, medicine, food, disinfectant, pomade, organic fertilizers, candles, detergents, and as dyes in textiles. This review work aimed to review the report published up to 2019 describing the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities ofColaspecies.