Planta Med 2006; 72 - S_045
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-949778

Monographic profile of Guiera, leaves a West African herbal drug

O Silva 1, ET Gomes 1
  • 1Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

Guiera senegalensis Lam (Combretaceae) is a major West African medicinal plant, often employed to treat venereal, diarrhoeal, respiratory and fungal diseases.

Previous work confirmed G. senegalensis leaves antimicrobial activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae (including resistant strains), Shigella dysenteriae, Vibrio cholerae, Giardia lamblia and Cladosporium cucumerinum, corroborant it's traditional uses [1–3].

Bioguided phytochemical studies permitted the identification of flavonoids, gallic tannins, naphthalene derivatives (naphthyl butenone and naphthopyrans) and terpenoids, among G. senegalensis compounds [4]. In sequence, the significant and useful markers to G. senegalensis leaves diagnosis were also determined [5].

Hereby we present the botanical and chemical characteristics that should be included under Characteristics, Identification and Dosage parts of a future herbal drug monograph.

References: 1 Silva, O. et al. (1997), Int. J. Pharmacogn. 35: 323–328. 2 Silva, O. et al. (1996), J. Etnopharm. 50: 55–59. 3. Silva, O. (2004), PhD Thesis, Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa. 4. Silva, O., Gomes, E.T. (2003), J. Nat. Prod. 66: 447–449. 5. Silva, O., Serrano, R., Gomes, E.T. (2005), 53rd Annual Congress of the Society for Medicinal Plant Research, Florence.