Insights into the botany, medicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Combretum caffrum

Background: Combretum caffrum (Eckl. Zeyh.) Kuntze is a small-to-medium-sized deciduous tree widely used in traditional medicines. Aim: The current study reviews the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of C. caffrum. Setting: The current study provides an overview of the botany and ethnopharmacological properties of C. caffrum. Method: A search for available information on the botany, chemical constituents and pharmacological properties of C. caffrum was conducted by systematically searching the scientific databases which included ScienceDirect®, PubMed®, Web of Science, SpringerLink®, Google Scholar, SciELO and Scopus®, as well as pre-electronic literature sources such as book chapters, books and other scientific publications obtained from the university library. Results: The findings highlight the use of C. caffrum as a multipurpose species, providing a wide range of goods and ecosystem services. The bark, leaves, leaf juice, roots, root bark and stem bark of C. caffrum are used as charm for harming an enemy and tonic, as ethnoveterinary medicine and also as traditional medicine for body and leg pains, cancer and eye problems. Chemical compounds identified from C. caffrum include flavonoids, phenanthrene, phytosterols, stilbenoids, polyphenolics, iridoids, lignans, ketones, glycosides, fatty acids, xanthones, coumarins, tannins and triterpenoids. The crude extracts of C. caffrum and phytochemical compounds isolated from the species exhibited anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant and cytotoxicity activities. Contribution: This study adds to existing literature information about the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of C. caffrum. To realise the full potential of C. caffrum as a valuable component of traditional pharmacopoeia, future studies should explore the active ingredients of the species using various in vitro and in vivo assays.