Phytochemistry and Medicinal Uses of Lonchocarpus Species: Systematic Review of a Promising Medicinal Plant

Research on natural products is crucial to the hunt for novel drugs to treat human diseases. Over time, there has been evidence and documentation of the usage of these medicinal plants as a source of physiologically active compounds with therapeutic potential for the treatment of a wide range of illnesses. Although the plant genus Lonchocarpus (Fabaceae, papilionadeae) has not yet been thoroughly studied, it has been shown to contain a wide range of compounds with numerous unique uses. This article discusses the pharmacological and biological roles, uses, and phytochemical constituents of the three species of Lonchocarpus plants such as; Lonchocarpus bussei, Lonchocarpus cyanescens, and Lonchocarpus sericeus that are found throughout Nigeria. A wide variety of polyphenolic compounds can be found in abundance in lonschocarpus. Chalcones, flavans, aurones, dibenzoylmethane derivatives, rotenoids, pterocarpans, flavanols, flavones, isoflavones, and flavonols are some of the classes that are included in this category, according to phytochemical studies. Despite the widespread need for medicinal compounds to treat both recognized and unknown ailments worldwide, little attention has been paid to the isolation, phytochemistry, and therapeutic qualities of compounds from Lonchocarpus species. Thus, the purpose of this review was to address the phytochemistry of Lonchocarpus species and to draw attention to the plant's therapeutic benefits and phytochemistry, particularly for those studying natural products and drug synthesis.