Phytochemical and Pharmacological Properties of Opilia amentacea Roxb (Previously Opilia celtidifolia (Opiliaceae) Guill. Perr.): A Review

The genus Opilia (Opiliaceae) includes only two species: amentacea and campestris. Opilia amentacea Roxb. (O. amentacea), also called Opilia celtidifolia Guill. & Perr) is a West African woody climber plant, a heavily-branched shrub or tree up to 10 m. O. amentacea grows in fringing forests and savannah, often on anthills. It is widespread from Senegal to Nigeria and dispersed over the drier parts of tropical Africa. The plant is commonly used in traditional medicine to treat dermatoses, malaria, wounds, abdominal pain, internal worms, jaundice, headaches, and fever. Many phytochemical and pharmacological investigations have already been done on the Opilia genus. Opilia species were found to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, wound healing, and anticancer activities. This review summarizes previous chemical and pharmacological studies conducted on Opilia amentacea.