Medicinal uses and ethnopharmacological properties of Combretum woodii Dümmer: A narrative review

Alfred Maroyi

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2752

Authors

Alfred Maroyi, PhD Department of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2752

Keywords:

bush willow family, Combretaceae, Combretum woodii, materia medica, traditional ecological knowledge

Abstract

Combretum woodii Dümmer is a deciduous climber, shrub, or tree that has potential as a medicinal plant in Eswatini, Mozambique, and South Africa. This study aimed to review the medicinal uses and ethnopharmacological properties of C. woodii. A systematic review of the scientific literature on the therapeutic potential of C. woodii was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The literature search was conducted using databases PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, Scopus, and SciELO, as well as pre-electronic literature sources such as book chapters, books, and other scientific publications obtained from the university library. Results from this systematic review revealed that C. woodii is used as a purgative and as traditional medicine for gastrointestinal problems, female infertility, respiratory infections, sexually transmitted infections, sores, and wounds. The phytochemical assessment of C. woodii showed that the species contains 2',3',4-trihydroxyl-3,5,4'-trimethoxyl bibenzyl (combretastatin B5), cycloart-24-en-3β-ol, gardenolic acid A, §-glutinol, lupeol, and methyl gardenolate A. The crude extracts of C. woodii leaves exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, anticoccidial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. This traditional ecological knowledge about C. woodii accumulated from the past to the present is extremely important and of great value in the assessment of the therapeutic potential and ethnopharmacological value of the species. Detailed studies on C. woodii, focusing on phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological evaluations, as well as in vivo, pre-clinical, and clinical studies, are recommended.

Author Biography

Alfred Maroyi, PhD, Department of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.

is a Professor of Botany in the Department of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences, University of Fort Hare.

References

Ahmed, A.S., McGaw, L.J., Elgorashi, E.E., Naidoo, V., and Eloff, J.N. (2014). Polarity of extracts and fractions of four Combretum (Combretaceae) species used to treat infections and gastrointestinal disorders in southern African traditional medicine has a major effect on different relevant in vitro activities. Journal of Ethnopharmacology,154, 339–350. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.03.030

Anokwuru, C.P., Sandasi, M., Chen, W., Van Vuuren, S., Elisha, I.L., Combrinck, S., and Viljoen, A.M. (2021). Investigating antimicrobial compounds in South African Combretaceae species using a biochemometric approach. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 269, 113681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113681

Anokwuru, C.P., Chen, W., Van Vuuren, S., Combrinck, S., and Viljoen, A.M. (2022). Bioautography-guided HPTLC–MS as a rapid hyphenated technique for the identification of antimicrobial compounds from selected South African Combretaceae species. Phytochemical Analysis, 33(8):1177‐1189. https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.3167

Arnold, T.H., Prentice, C.A., Hawker, L.C., Snyman, E.E., Tomalin, M., Crouch, N.R., and Pottas-Bircher, C. (2002). Medicinal and magical plants of southern Africa: An annotated checklist. National Botanical Institute, Strelitzia 13, Pretoria.

Bhat, R.B. and Jacobs, T.V. (1995). Traditional herbal medicine in Transkei. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 48, 7–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(95)01276-J

Boon, R.G.C., Jordaan, M., Van Wyk, A.E. (2020). A new species of Combretum sect. Ciliatipetala (Combretaceae) from South Africa. Phytotaxa, 434(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.434.1.1

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D., Vandebroek, I., Jones, A., and Revene, Z. (2007). Health for sale: The medicinal plant markets in Trujillo and Chiclayo, northern Peru. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 3, 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-3-37

Coombes, P.H., and Rogers, C.B. (2002). Methyl gardenolate A: A novel cycloartenoid ester from the leaves of Combretum woodii (Combretaceae). Natural Product Letters, 16(5), 301-304. https://doi.org/10.1080/10575630290020587

Eloff, J.N. (1999). The antibacterial activity of 27 Southern African members of the Combretaceae. South African Journal of Science, 95, 148–152

Eloff, J.N., Famakin, J.O., and Katerere, D.R.P. (2005a). Combretum woodii (Combretaceae) leaf extracts have high activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. African Journal of Biotechnology, 4, 1161–1166. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajb.v4i10.71275

Eloff, J.N., Famakin, J.O., and Katerere, D.R.P. (2005b). Isolation of an antibacterial stilbene from Combretum woodii (Combretaceae) leaves. African Journal of Biotechnology, 4, 1166–1171.

Gere, J., Yessoufou, K., Daru, B.H., Maurin, O., and Van Der Bank, M. (2015). The African continent is a likely origin of the family Combretaceae (Myrtales). A biogeographical view. Annual Research and Review in Biology, 8, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.9734/ARRB/2015/17476

Germishuizen, G., and Meyer, N.L. (2003). Plants of southern Africa: An annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14, National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

Glen, H.F. (2005). Combretum woodii Dümmer. KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium. Available from: https://pza.sanbi.org/combretum-woodii, accessed on 12 April 2026.

Griggs, J., Metcalfe, J.C., and Hesketh, R. (2001). Targeting tumour vasculature: The development of combretastatin A4. The Lancet Oncology, 2, 82–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(00)00224-2

Hahn, N. (2012). A revision of the Combretum vendae complex. South African Journal of Botany, 78, 147–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2011.06.005

Hinnen, P., and Eskens, F.A.L.M. (2007). Vascular disrupting agents in clinical development. British Journal of Cancer, 96(8), 1159-1165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6603694

Hutchings, A., Scott, A.H., Lewis, G., and Cunningham, A.B. (1996). Zulu medicinal plants: An inventory. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg.

Jordaan, M., Van Wyk, A.E., and Maurin, O. (2011). A conspectus of Combretum (Combretaceae) in southern Africa, with taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on species and sections. Bothalia, 41(1), 135–160. https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v41i1.36

Leistner, O.A. (2000). Seed plants of southern Africa: Families and genera. Strelitzia 10, National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

Maroyi, A. (2025a). Insights into the ethnopharmacological properties of Combretum apiculatum Sond. (family Combretaceae): Narrative review. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 18(7), 16-23. https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2025v18i7.54177

Maroyi, A. (2025b). Systematic review of the therapeutic potential of the hiccup-nut tree, Combretum bracteosum (Hochst.) Brandis. Student’s Journal of Health Research Africa, 6, 9. https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i9.2003

Maroyi, A. (2025c). Cultural, forage, medicinal, and potential applications of Combretum collinum Fresen. (family Combretaceae). Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 31, 61. https://doi.org/10.32859/era.31.61.1-17

Maroyi, A. (2025d). Combretum hereroense Schinz (Combretaceae): Medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 18(10), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2025v18i10.54438

Maroyi, A. (2025e). The leadwood tree (Combretum imberbe Wawra, family Combretaceae): Medicinal uses and ethnopharmacological properties. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 30, 50. http://dx.doi.org/10.32859/era.30.50.1-14 33

Maroyi A. 2025f. Insights into the botany, medicinal, phytochemical, and pharmacological properties of Combretum caffrum. Journal of Medicinal Plants for Economic Development 9(1), a282. https://doi.org/10.4102/jomped.v9i1.282

Maroyi, A. (2025g). Combretum erythrophyllum (Burch.) Sond. (Combretaceae): Medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences, 24, 246-254. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajps.2025.246.254

Maroyi, A. (2025h). Combretum kraussii Hochst. (family Combretaceae): Evaluation of its medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 28, 559-566. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2025.559.566

Maroyi, A. (2026a). Medicinal uses and biological activities of knobbly bushwillow (Combretum mossambicense). Medicinal Plants International Journal of Phytomedicines and Related Industries, 18(2), 335-343. https://doi.org/10.5958/0975-6892.2026.00035.3

Maroyi, A. (2026b). Evaluation of medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities of Combretum vendae A.E. Van Wyk (Combretaceae). Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 29, 211-217. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2026.211.217

Masoko, P., and Eloff, J.N. (2007). Screening of twenty-four South African Combretum and six Terminalia species (Combretaceae) for antioxidant activities. African Journal of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 4(2), 231-239. https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v4i2.31213

Masoko, P., Picard, J., and Eloff, J.N. (2007). The antifungal activity of twenty-four southern African Combretum species (Combretaceae). South African Journal of Botany, 73, 173–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2006.09.010

Naidoo, V., McGaw, L.J., Bisschop, S.P.R., Duncan, N., and Eloff, J.N. (2008). The value of plant extracts with antioxidant activity in attenuating coccidiosis in broiler chickens. Veterinary Parasitology, 153, 214–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.02.013

Maurin, O., Chase, M.W., Jordaan, M., and Van Der Bank, M. (2010). Phylogenetic relationships of Combretaceae inferred from nuclear and plastid DNA sequence data: Implications for generic classification. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 162, 453-476. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2010.01027.x

McGaw, L.J., Rabe, T., Sparg, S.G., Jäger, A.K., Eloff, J.N., and Van Staden, J. (2001). An investigation into the biological activity of Combretum species. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 75, 45–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(00)004050

Mhlongo, L.S., and Van Wyk, B.-E. (2019). Zulu medicinal ethnobotany: New records from the Amandawe area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 122, 266–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2019.02.012

Neuwinger, H.D. (2000). African traditional medicine. MedPharm Scientific Publishers, Stuttgart.

Palgrave, C.K. (2002). Coates Palgrave trees of southern Africa. C Struik Publishers, Cape Town.

Palmer, E., and Pitman, N. (1972). Trees of southern Africa: Covering all known indigenous species in the Republic of South Africa, South-West Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland. Balkema, Cape Town.

Patel, V.K., Rajak, H., Shirbhate, E., Kumar, A., and Singh, S.K. (2024). Combretum caffrum confers a potential cutting-edge anticancer molecule, as combretastatins. In: Chaurasia, P.K., Bharati, S.L., and Singh, S. (editors). The chemistry inside spices and herbs: Research and development volume 3, Bentham Science Publishers, Sharjah; pp. 173-188. http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/9789815196801124030009

Pooley, E. (1993). The complete field guide to trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.

Quattrocchi, U. (2012). CRC world dictionary of medicinal and poisonous plants: common names, scientific names, eponyms, synonyms, and etymology. CRC Press, Boca Raton.

Schmidt, E., Lotter, M., and McCleland, W. (2017). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Jacana Media, Johannesburg.

Silén, H., Salih, E.Y.A., Mgbeahuruike, E.E., and Fyhrqvist, P. (2023). Ethnopharmacology, antimicrobial potency, and phytochemistry of African Combretum and Pteleopsis species (Combretaceae): A review. Antibiotics, 12, 264. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12020264

Stace, C.A. (1969). The significance of the leaf epidermis in the taxonomy of the Combretaceae II: The genus Combretum subgenus Combretum in Africa. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 62, 131-168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1965.tb00060.x

Stace, C.A. (2002). Proposal to conserve Terminalianom. cons. (Combretaceae) against an additional name, Bucida. Taxon, 51, 193-194. https://doi.org/10.2307/155498550

Stace, C.A. (2007). Combretaceae. In: Kubitzki, K. (editor). The families and genera of vascular plants, volume 9. Springer, Berlin, pp. 67-82. https://doi.org/10.1007/978 3-540-32219-1_11

Tilney, P.M. (2002). A contribution to the leaf and young stem anatomy of the Combretaceae. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 138(2), 163–196. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1095-8339.2002.138002163.x

Van Wyk, A.E. (1984). A new species of Combretum from Venda and taxonomic notes on the section Angustimarginata (Combretaceae). South African Journal of Botany, 3, 125–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-4618(16)30067-5

Van Wyk, P. (2008). Field guide to the trees of the Kruger National Park. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.

Van Wyk, B.-E., Van Oudtshoorn, B., and Gericke, N. (2013). Medicinal plants of South Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria.

Venter, F., and Venter, J.-A. (2015). Making the most of indigenous trees. Briza Publications, Pretoria.

Watt, J.M., and Breyer-Brandwijk, M.G. (1962). The medicinal and poisonous plants of southern and eastern Africa: being an account of their medicinal and other uses, chemical composition, pharmacological effects and toxicology in man and animal. E & S. Livingstone Ltd., Edinburgh.