Sideroxylon inerme L. is a shrub or small tree used as ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) in south-central Africa, and therefore, this study was aimed at providing a comprehensive review of the trends and patterns of uses of this species as EVM and also its other medicinal applications, including its phytochemistry and pharmacological properties. Information about ethnomedicinal uses, and phytochemical and biological properties of S. inerme was collected from several online databases such as PubMed®, ScienceDirect®, Web of Science, Google Scholar, SpringerLink®, SciELO, and Scopus®, as well as pre-electronic literature sources such as book chapters, books, and other scientific publications obtained from the university library. The current study revealed that S. inerme is used as EVM and herbal medicine in 40.0% of the countries where the taxon is indigenous. The phytochemical assessment of the taxon showed that it contains flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, saponins, sterols, tannins, terpenes, terpenoids, and triterpenoids. Pharmacological evaluations of the taxon revealed that the crude extracts and phytochemical compounds isolated from the taxon are characterized by antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-proliferative, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. It is therefore recommended that further studies emphasizing toxicological assessments, in vivo, and clinical evaluations aimed at corroborating the EVM and ethnomedicinal applications of S. inerme should be conducted.
Key words: Ethnoveterinary medicine; herbal medicine; Sapotaceae; Sideroxylon inerme; South-central Africa
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