JOURNAL OF CRITICAL REVIEWS ISSN- 2394-5125 VOL 8, ISSUE 01, 2021 A REVIEW OF ETHNOMEDICINAL USES, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF CALODENDRUM CAPENSE (RUTACEAE) Alfred Maroyi Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; Phone/Fax: 0027406022322; E-mail:
[email protected] ABSTRACT Calodendrum capense (L. f.) Thunb. is a medium to large tree widely used as traditional medicine in tropical Africa. This study is aimed at evaluating the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of C. capense. Results of the current study are based on data derived from several online databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed and Science Direct, and pre-electronic sources such as scientific publications, books, dissertations, book chapters and journal articles. This study revealed that the bark, fruit, leaf, seed and stem bark infusion and/or decoction of C. capense are mainly used as dermatological agents, insecticide and protective charm, and traditional medicines for skin infections, toothache, cough, fever and stomach problems. Phytochemical compounds identified from the species include alkaloids, coumarins, fatty acids, limonoids, methyl esters and terpenoids. Pharmacological research revealed that C. capense extracts and compounds isolated from the species have antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antioxidant, antiproliferative, insecticidal, larvicidal and cytotoxicity activities. Calodendrum capense should be subjected to detailed phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological evaluations aimed at correlating its medicinal uses with its phytochemistry and pharmacological properties. Keywords: Calodendrum capense, indigenous pharmacopeia, Rutaceae, traditional medicine 1. Introduction Calodendrum capense (L. f.) Thunb. (Fig. 1) is a medium to large deciduous to evergreen tree belonging to the Rutaceae or citrus family.