Table 2.

Bioactive terpenoids from African flora with potential for antitrypanosomal anti-Schistosoma and antileischmanial drug discovery

Compound number	Compound class/subclass	Part of plant studied	Species name	Plant family	Place of collection	Used traditionally/locally	Reported activity on/against	References
34–38	Terpenoid/Sesquiterpenoids	Stem bark	Warburgia ugandensis	Canellaceae	Harena Forest, Dello Menna, Ethiopia	Treatment of various ailments such as common cold, fever, malaria, stomachache, constipation snakebites measles and diarrheal, This plant is also a common component in a number of medicinal preparations.	Trypanosomiasis (IC50 from 0.64 to 6.4 µM)	[115]
39–41	Terpenoid/Carvotacetone derivatives	Aerial parts	Sphaeranthus bullatus (syn: S. gallensis Sacleux)	Asteraceae	Ngong forest, Nairobi, Kenya	Usually consumed as herbal tea for the management of diarrhea.	Leishmanosomiasis (IC50 = 2.16, 10.64 and 2.89 µM, respectively)	[118]
42, 43	Terpenoid	Roots	Clerodendrum eriophyllum	Verbenaceae	Machakos, Eastern Kenya	Treatment of malaria	Leishmanosomiasis (IC50 = 0.25 and 0.61 µM, respectively)	[121]
44–46	Terpenoid/Diterpenoid	Leaves	Polyalthia longifolia	Annonaceae	Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria	To treat various protozoan infections including species of Trypanosoma, Leishmania, and Plasmodium	Trypanosomiasis	[122]
47		Leaves	Eucalyptus maculata	Myrtaceae	Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria	To treat various protozoan infections including species of Trypanosoma, Leishmania, and Plasmodium	Trypanosomiasis	[122]
48	Terpenoid/Diterpenoid	Bark	Entada abyssinica	Fabaceae	Dschang, Cameroon	To treat sleeping sickness	Trypanosomiasis (IC50 = 12 μM)	[124]
49–51	Terpenoid/Diterpenoid	Fruits	Xylopia aethiopica	Annonaceae	Nkongsamba, Cameroon	To treat bronchitis and dysenteric among other ailments	Trypanosomiasis	[126]
52	Terpenoid/Diterpenoid	Rhizomes	Aframomum sceptrum	Zingiberaceae	Ivory Coast	In addition to their spiritual belief from the plant species, they are as well used as food spice, and for the treatment of inflammation, eczema, fevers, laxative, anti-helmintic, mumps, etc.	Trypanosomiasis and leishmanosomiasis (IC50 = 5.7 μM).	[127]
53	Terpenoid/Triterpenoid	Roots	Asparagus stipularis	Asparagaceae	Sinai, Egypt	To treat Schistosomiasis (bilharziasis) amongst other ailments	Schistosomiasis	[128]
54	Terpenoid/Diterpenoid	Root barks	Elaeodendron schlechteranum	Celastraceae	Bunda district, Kung’ombe, Tanzania	Treatment of anaemia, general body pain, dysmenorrhea, female infertility and male impotence, boils, carbuncles, cardiovascular problems including hypertension and joint inflammation.	Trypanosomiasis (T. cruzi (IC50 < 0.57 μM), T. brucei (IC50 < 0.57 μM) and leishmanosomiasis against (L. infantum IC50 = 1.67 μM)	[129]
55, 56		Roots	Salacia madagascariensis	Celastraceae	Tanzania	Treat malaria, fever, and menorrhagia	Leishmanosomiasis	[130]
57, 58	Terpenoid/Diterpenoid and Triterpenoid	Leaves	Keetia leucantha (syn: Plectronia leucantha Krause)	Rubiaceae	Benin	To treat parasitic diseases	Trypanosomiasis (IC50 for 57 = 5.48 and 14.25 μM, respectively, on Tbb BSF and Tbb PF. IC50 for 58 = 16.00 μM on Tbb BSF)	[131]
59	Terpenoid/Diterpenoid	Stem bark	Piptostigma preussi	Annonaceae	Ebolowa, Cameroon	To treat malaria	Trypanosomiasis activity	[132]
60, 61	Terpenoid/Triterpenoid	Stem bark	Vernonia guineensis	Asteraceae (Compositae)	Bafoussam, Cameroon	To treat malaria and jaundice as well as an anthelmintic, an aphrodisiac and an anti-dote to poison	Trypanosomiasis (IC50 from 4.60 to 7.67 μM)	[133]