Role of Khaya senegalensis in Traditional Medicine with Ethnobotanical Perspectives and Modern Validation
Keywords:
Khaya senegalensis, ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, limonoids, traditional medicine, African mahoganyAbstract
Khaya senegalensis (African mahogany), a member of the Meliaceae family, has long been used in African ethnomedicine for the treatment of malaria, gastrointestinal disturbances, jaundice, fever, and parasitic infections. Traditional applications emphasize bark decoctions, leaf poultices, and seed preparations as essential remedies. Modern pharmacological studies have validated many of these practices by identifying limonoids, flavonoids, and tannins with proven antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and antimalarial properties. This paper integrates ethnobotanical knowledge with phytochemical and pharmacological insights while discussing toxicological risks and conservation strategies. The findings highlight the potential of K. senegalensis as both a cultural asset and a pharmaceutical resource.
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