THE IMPORTANCE OF ECOLOGICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF DIPLORHYNCHUS CONDYLOCARPON (MüLL. ARG.) PICHON (APOCYNACEAE) IN TROPICAL AFRICAAlfred MaroyiAbstract Diplorhynchus condylocarpon (Müll. Arg.) Pichon is a shrub or small tree which occurs naturally in Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This study aims to provide some information about the ecological, biological and medicinal properties of D.condylocarpon in tropical Africa. This review examines the existing literature on the ecological, biological and medicinal properties of D. condylocarpon. This study revealed that the aerial part, bark, fruit, latex, leaf, root, root bark and stem bark infusions and/or decoctions of D. condylocarpon are mainly used as anthelmintic and galactagogue, and traditional medicines for headache, abdominal pains, snake bites, respiratory problems, blackwater fever, fever, malaria, sexually transmitted infections and gastro-intestinal problems. Ethnopharmacological research revealed that the species is characterized by alkaloids, antibacterial, antiplasmodialand antiprotozoan activities.The data from this study should contribute to improved management and conservation of D. condylocarpon in tropical Africa, considering concerns about anthropogenic pressure on plant biodiversity. |