Parkia biglobosa (Mimosaceae): Botany, Uses, Phytochemical Properties and Pharmacological Potential

Abstract

Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. ex G. Don, popularly known as the African locust bean tree, is a perennial tree legume that belongs to Mimosoïdeae sub-family and family of Fabaceae. This study is aimed at reviewing the botany, nutritional uses, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of P. biglobosa and the information was undertaken using electronic databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Science Direct, Web of Science, Pubmed, SciFinder, BMC and Open-thesis. Parkia biglobosa is a very important multipurpose tree that is used essentially for food, medicinal, cultural, economic and magico-therapeutic purposes. Due to its socio-economic and cultural importance, P. biglobosa species are vulnerable to unsustainable harvesting and are declining in numbers because they remain semi- or undomesticated in some west Africa countries. Different aqueous and organic extracts of P. biglobosa indicate that the species are rich in saponins, tannins, flavonoids, resins, carbohydrates, terpenoids, phenols, sterols, and cardiac glycosides. The nutritional and pharmacological benefits of P. biglobosa has been associated with its physicochemical properties. Pharmacological studies on P. biglobosa exhibited antimalarial, anti-helminthic, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-trypanosomic activities and antioxidant properties. Threats to the survival of this multipurpose species are also highlighted.

Strategies to Promote Sustainable Development: The Gendered Importance of Addressing Diminishing African Locust Bean (Parkia biglobosa) Resources in Northern Ghana’s Agro-Ecological Landscape

“…The place-specificity of threats to the African Locust Bean is highlighted by Musara et al [85], who contrast the "stable" listing in the 2012 International Union for the Conservation of Nature [86] Red List of Threatened Species with the "endangered" listing in a review of the conservation status of different types of vegetation in northwestern Nigeria [87]. The published 2021-2023 IUCN database continues to list P. biglobosa as "stable" [86].…”

Bioactive agents from Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R.Br. ex G. Don bark extracts for health promotion and nutraceutical uses

“…Indeed, the pharmacological and nutritional virtues of P. biglobosa have been related to its physicochemical properties. 9 The plant is a versatile tree legume found in many African countries. The seeds, pulp and leaves are used to prepare numerous foods and drinks, as well as to feed livestock and poultry.…”

“…Phytochemical investigations of P. biglobosa have elucidated the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, resins, terpenoids, phenols, sterols, carbohydrates and cardiac glycosides. Indeed, the pharmacological and nutritional virtues of P. biglobosa have been related to its physicochemical properties 9 . The plant is a versatile tree legume found in many African countries.…”

Ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal tree species used in the treatment of diseases by forest-fringe communities of Southwestern Ghana

“…Medicinal plants have historically played an indispensable role in human development globally. They were the primary approach to treating various ailments and are currently used as alternative medicines for several diseases ([ [2] , [3] , [4] ]). They are also widely recognized to have played a critical role in the development and advancement of modern medicine by serving as the precursors for the synthesis and discovery of new drugs ([ 5 , 6 ]).…”