DOI: 10.58920/sciphy0502726 ISSN: 2962-553X

A Comprehensive Review of The Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Safety Profile of Lophira lanceolata

Glory Joseph, Albashir Tahir
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Lophira lanceolata Van Tiegh. Ex Keay is an indigenous plant of the African transitional rainforests and savannas, widely used in regional traditional medicine. Current pharmacological data on this species are scattered across various disease models and extraction methodologies. This review consolidates the ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, and pharmacological literature on L. lanceolata to identify concrete targets for clinical translation.A multi-database search covering PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted to retrieve peer-reviewed studies on L. lanceolata, published from database inception to June 2026, yielding 26 eligible primary studies spanning ethnobotanical surveys, phytochemical analyses, and in vitro/in vivo pharmacological and toxicological assays. Ethnomedicinal records indicate that L. lanceolata is widely employed for malaria, gastrointestinal disorders, dental pain, and dermatological conditions. Phytochemical profiling has identified multiple bioactive classes, including flavonoids, saponins, and unique biflavonoids such as lophirones A-F and lanceolins. In vivo and in vitro models confirm antimalarial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anthelmintic, and antimicrobial activity. The plant also shows stage-specific gametocytocidal activity against Plasmodium parasites. Toxicological assessments indicate a wide safety margin for aqueous and methanolic extracts (LD₅₀ > 5000 mg/kg), with minimal sub-acute toxicity at standard therapeutic doses. Clinical translation is constrained by the lack of standardized extraction protocols, pharmacokinetic data, and human clinical trials. Future work requires robust compound quantification and well-designed human studies to validate preclinical findings.

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