Health benefits of the seeds, oils, roots and leaves of Monodora Tenuifolia

Abstract

Medicinal plants and their derived products have been used by human beings for centuries in the treatment and prevention of various disease conditions and they continue to play significant role in modern medicine. Interestingly, thousands of studies have been conducted both in developed and developing countries to assess the efficacy of medicinal plants and some of such studies have culminated in the development of plant-based medications. Reports showed that more than 90% of traditional remedies contain medicinal plants. The increasing significance of medicinal plants can be seen from its economic contribution. It has been reported that global trade in herbs is more than USD100 billion per year while India and China medicinal plant trade is USD200 to 500 billion per year. As part of examining the significant contributions that medicinal plants have been making to human health and continued relevance, this review focuses on the antioxidant, antidiabetic, antilipidemic, antiinflammatory, antimalarial, antimicrobial and antileishmanial activities of Monodora tenuifolia.