Abstract: Leptadenia hastata (Pers) Decne. of Apocynaceae family is an African plant which is used as nutriment as well as for medical purposesdue to its health promoting properties. Traditional healers use L. hastata to treat many diseases as hypertension, sexual impotence,trypanosomosis, acute rhinopharyngitis. In quantitative and qualitative terms, the leaves of L. hastata contain significant quantities ofsecondary metabolites, as triterpenes, total flavonoids, tanins, which can be important in biomedical research. In vivo studies showedthe antifertility effect of L. hastata leaves extracts which can be useful for hormonal therapy replacement. Herein, the ecology, traditionalmedicinal uses, phytochemistry, toxicity and pharmacology of L. hastata in consideration of its antifertility activity is reviewed. In viewof its constituents such as steroidal glycosides, triterpenes and polyoxypregnane derivatives, further investigation on the effect ofL. hastata on other hormonal endpoints like hormone dependent cancers appears promising. PubDate: 13 December, 2018
Open Access journal
