Pharmacological activities of Cissus populnea in human diseases

This review aims to highlight the ethnobotanical use and elaborate on the pharmacological activities of Cissus populnea. C.populnea is a medicinal plant widely distributed throughout Africa. Some parts of the plant have been reported traditionally as a therapeutic option. The plant has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of venereal diseases, sore breasts, indigestion, catharsis, urinary tract infections, sexual dysfunction, wounds, boils, skin disease, edema, intestinal parasites, and eye problems resulting from the attack of black cobra. It has also been used as an aphrodisiac, cathartic, and antidote to arrow wounds. The extracts possess pharmacological activities such as antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, larvicidal, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, anti-lipogenic, antiparasitic, antimalarial, anthelmintic, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. These activities could be linked to a variety of secondary metabolites such as phytosterols, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, steroids, iron, tannins, vitamins, flavonoids, saponins, and phenolics.