Chemical and pharmacological richness of Turraeanthus (Meliaceae): A review on progress and future research opportunities

Abstract

Turraeanthus (Meliaceae) is a genus of trees and shrubs that is widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of Africa. Ethnopharmacological studies of this genus suggest that T. africanus is the species most commonly used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases, including malaria, typhoid fever, stomach aches, intestinal worms, coughs and inflammatory and cardiovascular conditions. Previous chemical studies have identified approximately 86 distinct compounds (including 21 synthetic derivatives), with diterpenoids (40.69 %) representing the predominant chemotaxonomic markers in the Turraeanthus genus. Other reported classes of compounds include limonoids (2.32 %), protolimonoids (16.28 %), triterpenoids (3.48 %), sesquiterpenoids (4.65 %), steroids (8.14 %), epoxyquinols (8.14 %), alkaloids (5.81 %), coumarins (4.65 %) and miscellaneous compounds (5.84 %). Some of these isolates have exhibited various bioactivities, including antibacterial, antifungal, toxic, cytotoxic, antiplasmodial and antioxidant effects. This review compiles insights into the traditional uses and chemical and pharmacological aspects of the Turraeanthus genus from 1965 to May 2025. Additionally, it provides a database for UPLC/MSⁿ studies, as well as evidence on the absorption and permeation properties of the isolated compounds from the genus. The data presented were gathered from scientific articles available in online libraries, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Elsevier and SciFinder. The aim of this work is to inspire further research into the rich chemical diversity of Turraeanthus and potentially contribute to the discovery of new therapeutic agents to improve human health.