Hassan S. Khalid

Medicinal plants possess immense traditional applications encompassing antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antimalarial, antitumor and many. These diverse curative properties attributed to their phytochemicals which can be obtained from different morphological plant parts. In Sudan, medicinal plants are rather diverse species; pertaining with the diverse climate condition. Four plant species namely, Ambrosia maritima L., Ammi visnaga L., Aristolochia bracteolata L. and Lawsonia inermis L., are widely held in folkloric medicine for the treatment of vast myriad of diseases including solid mass tumor conditions. This review gives a bird’s eye view on the plant species distribution, traditional uses, biological activities and chemical constituents.

Plants are potent biochemical factories and have been components of phytomedicine. Since time immemorial man is able to obtain from them a wondrous assortment of industrial chemicals. Plant-based natural constituents can be derived from any part of the plant like bark, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, seeds, etc., which may contain active components. Sudan with its uniquely variable climatic conditions possesses a huge wealth of flora. Capparis decidua Family (Capparidaceae), Cyperus rotundus Family (Cyperaceae) and Tribulus terrestris Family (Zygophyllaceae) were used successfully in Sudanese folkloric medicine for treatment of inflammatory disorders.  The present review described Botanical description, biological activites and phytochemical profile of these three plants.