A comprehensive review on chemical and pharmacological potential of Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell

The fruit of plant Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell, is found native to tropical regions of West Africa, and vernacularly recognized as the Miracle Fruit by Africans. The property of the plant has traditionally been employed in many food industries, besides its ethnopharmacological significance. The phytochemical analysis from literature reveals that various parts of plant contains many bioactive components including alkaloids, lignans, phenolic acids, glycoproteins and flavonoids. Recent studies exhibit its pharmacological potential such as antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-hyperuricemia and anti-convulsant properties. Therefore, this review aims to systematically summarizes scientific evidences with the therapeutic, ethnopharmacological and traditional claims found in literature. However, the data acquired is still very imperfect, thus future research is hopeful to discover the precise mechanism of action of its bioactive components to explore chemical constituents, and their nutraceutical and clinical uses of this multipurpose plant to employ its valuable effects on human beings.

Automated summary

Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell is a plant native to tropical regions of West Africa, and is commonly known as the "Miracle Fruit" by Africans. In addition to its ethnopharmacological significance, the properties of this plant have traditionally been used in many food industries. Phytochemical analysis of the literature reveals that various parts of the plant contain many bioactive components, including alkaloids, lignans, phenolic acids, glycoproteins, and flavonoids. Recent studies have shown its pharmacological potential, such as anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-hyperuricemia, and anti-convulsant properties. Therefore, this review aims to systematically summarize the scientific evidence of the therapeutic, ethnopharmacological, and traditional claims found in the literature. However, the data obtained is still very limited, so future research is expected to further explore the mechanism of action of its bioactive components, as well as the chemical composition and its nutritional and clinical uses, in order to better utilize the valuable effects of this multipurpose plant on human health.