A systematic review on biological and medicinal properties of Ehretia rigida (Thunb.) Druce (Ehretiaceae) in Southern Africa

Wild plants are widely utilized as important sources of traditional medicines and food. Ehretia rigida (Thunb.) is one such plant species that occurs naturally in southern Africa different parts the have nutritional, cultural, pharmaceutical importance. The current study aimed at providing information on medicinal biological properties E. rigida. review assessed existing literature uses plant. revealed leaves, twigs, stems, bark roots mainly used for ritual purposes, infertility, headache, abdominal pains, chest pain, skin cuts, sprained joints, newborn baby infections, a good-luck charm, fire-making rain-making ceremonies, warding-off enemies dangerous animals ethnoveterinary medicine. phytochemical evaluation showed it characterized by allantoin, ?-amyrin, ?avonoids, phenolics, saponins, tannins, ?-sitosterol 1-triacontanol. pharmacological crude extracts demonstrated anticholinesterase inhibition, antifungal, antibacterial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties. This highlights health benefits countries Africa. Therefore, detailed ethnopharmacological evaluations focusing phytochemistry, properties, toxicological evaluations, vivo clinical research investigations recommended.