A narrative review of the nutritional, medicinal, and ethnopharmacological properties of Grewia flava DC. (Malvaceae family).

Abstract

  Grewia flava DC., commonly known as “velvet raisin” in southern Africa, is a wild plant species with high socio-economic potential. Its fruits are edible, and various organs of G. flava are used in traditional medicine. This study was undertaken aimed at reviewing nutritional, medicinal, and ethnopharmacological properties of G. flava. This study is based on literature obtained from scientific databases such as SpringerLink, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and SciELO, as well as literature obtained from pre-electronic sources such as books, book chapters, and other scientific publications obtained from the university library. This research showed that the fruit flesh and skin of G. flava are a good source of energy, classic nutrients, and minerals. The bark, fruits, leaves, roots, stems, and stem bark of G. flava are used as charm and ethnoveterinary medicine, and traditional medicine for sexually transmitted infections, burns, cough, diarrhoea, kidney problems, stomach problems, and tuberculosis. The species is characterized by alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, glycosides, steroids, anthraquinones, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, terpenoids, tannins, and reducing sugars. The crude extracts of leaves, fruits, bark, roots, and twigs of G. flava and phytochemical compounds isolated from the species demonstrated antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic activities. Future research involving G. flava should focus on detailed nutritional, phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological evaluations of the species.