Traditional uses, phytochemicals, and biological properties of Saba senegalensis

The fruit of Saba senegalensis is respectively known among local folks in Ghana, Senegal, and Burkina Faso as εsononantin, maad and weda. The plant has been used traditionally, ethnobotanically, and medicinally in most West African countries. The phytochemicals that have been discovered in various extracts of S. senegalensis parts include alkaloids, coumarins, anthracene glycosides, anthocyanosides, anthocyanins, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, saponin glycosides, sterols, condensed tannins, tannins, triterpenes, and triterpenoids. Presently, isolation and characterisation of phytochemicals from various parts of S. senegalensis has not been fully explored since scientists have isolated only two steroidal alkaloids from the stem of the plant namely Irehine and Homoandrost-9-ene-17β,17aβ-diol-3β-(methylamino)-17aα-methyl-12-one. The phytochemicals have shown biological properties such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, anti-microbial, analgesic, larvicidal, ovicidal, myostimulant, hypotensive, anti-diabetic, anti-lipid peroxidation and anti-mycobacterial effects. Additionally, isolation and characterisation of medicinally beneficial phytochemicals from various parts of the plant, namely latex, leaf, stem, flower, root, fruit, and bark should be comprehensively investigated. Thus, this current review summarises the traditional uses, phytochemicals, and biological properties of various parts of the plant.