Ximenia americana L. From Popular Use to Anti‐Inflammatory Activities: A Comprehensive Review

ABSTRACT Ximenia americana (L.), known as “yellow plum,” “sea lemon,” or “Brazilian plum,” is a tropical/subtropical plant widely used in traditional medicine. Its roots, leaves, flowers, stem, and fruits are traditionally employed to treat various inflammatory disorders. To review the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical profile, and biological‐pharmacological properties of X. americana related to inflammation. This systematic review followed the Cochrane Handbook and preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta‐analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The research question was whether traditional uses of X. americana are supported by its phytochemical and biological properties in nonclinical studies. Article searches were conducted in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Virtual Health Library, SciELO, and Google Scholar. Two reviewers independently selected eligible studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Ninety‐six articles met the inclusion criteria: 21 in vivo (521.2%), 16 in vitro (39%), and four with both approaches (9.8%). X. americana is used in folk medicine for treating toothaches, respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, and general inflammation. Scientific studies support these uses, showing anti‐inflammatory, antinociceptive, gastroprotective, and antioxidant properties. A total of 181 compounds have been identified, including 31 oil and fat compounds, 22 terpenes, 18 flavonoids, three phenolic acids, one alkaloid, one polyphenol, and 105 others. X. americana has validated anti‐inflammatory and gastroprotective potential, supported by its rich phytochemical composition. It represents a promising natural source for identifying novel bioactive molecules for treating inflammatory diseases, with strong potential for pharmaceutical development.