~ 1397 ~    Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2017; 6(6): 1397-1401 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2017; 6(6): 1397-1401 Received: 06-09-2017 Accepted: 07-10-2017 Ahmed HA Department of Pharmacognosy and Ethnomedicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto-Nigeria Correspondence Ahmed HA Department of Pharmacognosy and Ethnomedicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto-Nigeria Therapeutic Potentials of Cnestis ferruginea: A Review Ahmed HA Abstract Cnestis ferruginea (Connaraceae) is a popular plant in Tropical Africa. Cnestis ferruginea is a multipurpose plant with a lot of medicinal uses some of which have been established by several studies. The plant contains a number of important phytochemicals of potential therapeutic effect. The plant is a potential reservoir for new drugs. Studies revealed that Cnestis ferruginea is a potential antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, laxative, anti-convulsant, aphrodisiac, hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective agent Keywords: Cnestis ferruginea, therapeutic effect, phytochemicals, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory 1. Introduction Medicinal plants are regarded as reservoir of various types of bioactive compounds with varied therapeutic and pharmacological activities. The therapeutic potential of medicinal plants has been well researched over the years [1] . The knowledge of uses of medicinal plants as drugs in various traditional medical systems of medicine has been of great importance in the discovery of new drugs for orthodox medicine [2] . Despite the current ascendency of synthesis as a preferred method of drug discovery, the potential of medicinal plants and their extracts to yield new drugs for therapy and prophylaxis remains immense [3] . The persistence of killer diseases together with the adverse effects of synthetic drugs, suggest the need to move from orthodox to natural medicine. Medicinal plants derived natural products are an immutable source of biologically active agents, they are natural, bio-renewable and readily available unlike synthetic drugs [4] . Cnestis ferruginea DC (Connaraceae) a shrub or a tree growing to around 6metres tall is widely distributed throughout the region from Senegal to West Cameroon and other parts of Tropical Africa. The plant is widely used in traditional medicine in Africa. The scarlet fruit of the plant adds to its value as an ornamental plant [5] . The plant has been used traditionally in treating conjunctivitis, syphilis, gum pain, wounds, dysentery and gonorrhea [6] . The fruit is used for treating gingivitis and Streptococci infections of the mouth in Nigeria. Its root is used as laxative and the stem is rubbed on the skin and also used as to treat throat infections. The plant has been reported to contain bioactive compounds inhibitory to bacterial growth [7] . According to the various studies reported in this review, Cnestis ferruginea is a potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, laxative, anti-convulsant, aphrodisiac, hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective agent. 2. Scientific Classification [8] Kingdom : Plantae Clade : Angiosperm Clade : Eudicots Clade : Rosids Order : Oxalidales Family : Connaraceae Genus : Cnestis Species : C. ferruginea Binomial name : Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC. 3. Common name: Short pod, alum plant [9] 4. Local names: Gboyin gboyin or Omu aja (Yoruba), Fura amarya (Hausa), Amu nkita (Igbo), Ukpo-ibieka (Edo), Usiere ebua (Efik) [10] 5. Plant Description Cnestis ferruginea DC (Connaraceae) is a shrub or a tree growing to around 6 metres tall.