Phytochemical Diversity and Pharmacological Potential of Genista Species in Algeria: A Systematic Review

Genista, a genus in the Fabaceae family mainly found in the Mediterranean, includes 25 species in Algeria where 11 are native. Locally, these species are used medicinally to treat gastrointestinal disorders, hyperglycemia, and respiratory infections and as diuretics. This systematic review investigates the phytochemical diversity and pharmacological potential of the Algerian Genista species. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar up to December 2024, with no start date restrictions. The inclusion criteria focused on studies involving Genista species collected from Algeria that investigated the identification and/or quantification of specific phytochemical profiles and/or pharmacological activities, using extracts, residues, fractions, or essential oils. Thirty-two studies met the criteria, covering nine Genista species and identifying 132 compounds across major classes such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, and fatty acids. Total phenolic content (TPC) reached 690.32 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g, and total flavonoid content (TFC) was up to 318 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g. The highest antioxidant activity showed an IC₅₀ of 3.65 µg/mL. Antibacterial effects were strongest against Staphylococcus aureus, with a 19 mm inhibition zone and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values as low as 10 µg/mL. Hepatoprotective effects showed over 80% inhibition, while cytotoxicity had IC₅₀ values as low as 5 µg/mL. Anti-inflammatory activity reached 96.54%. These findings highlight the diverse pharmacological activities of the genus and its potential for therapeutic applications. However, many bioactivities, such as antidiabetic, antispasmodic, gastroprotective, and immunomodulatory effects, remain underexplored, highlighting the need for further rigorous research.