Comprehensive Review of the Ethnomedicinal Uses, Pharmacological Effects and Flavonoids of Tephrosia species.

Abstract

Abstract: Tephrosia is one of the largest genera in the Leguminosae (Fabaceae) family, with a wide range of distribution in temperate and tropical climates. This review examines the literature from 2000 to 2021 and focuses on medicinal uses, pharmacological research, and flavonoids extracted from Tephrosia species. The review also highlights existing knowledge gaps in Tephrosia species research, which could help speed up future studies aiming at discovering lead chemicals from these species. Tephrosia species are used as pesticides, animal feed additions, and to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. Furthermore, Tephrosia species are frequently used in traditional medicine to treat ailments such as gastro-duodenal disorders, chest pains, chronic diarrhoea, inflammatory disorders, skin disorders, wounds, dysmenorrhea, asthma, elephantiasis, haemorrhoids, and bronchitis. Several recent pharmacological studies have established their efficacy as anti-plasmodium, anti-cancer, anti-protozoal, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-insecticidal drugs. Furthermore, flavonoids isolated from these species have been proven to exhibit anti-plasmodia, anticancer, and anti-insecticidal properties, supporting the majority of Tephrosia species' traditional applications. Over 140 flavonoids have been identified and isolated from approximately 25 Tephrosia species to date. The majority of the isolated flavonoids have O-substituted, C-methylated, or prenylated patterns and are flavonol, chalcone, flavone, or flavanone. Notably, some of the flavonoids with unique skeletal structures were discovered for the first time in the species. Most of the reported biological activity, however, requires further testing against a wide range of diseases, though they can be recommended as possible promising compounds.