Elaeodendron transvaalense is a plant species, which is in high demand as a herbal medicine in southern Africa. This study critically reviewed the medicinal applications, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of E. transvaalense. The literature on medicinal applications, phytochemical, and pharmacological activities of E. transvaalense, was collected from multiple internet sources including Elsevier, Google Scholar, SciFinder, Web of Science, Pubmed, BMC, Science Direct, and Scopus. Complementary information was gathered from pre-electronic sources, such as books, book chapters, theses, scientific reports, and journal articles obtained from the University library. This study revealed that the species is used as herbal medicine in 62.5% of the countries where E. transvaalense is native in southern Africa. It is mainly used as herbal medicine for diarrhoea, menorrhagia, stomach aches, skin infections, inflammations, and rashes. Phytochemical compounds identified from the species, include flavonoids, peltogynoid, phenols, proanthocyanidins, tannin, and triterpenes. Ethnopharmacological research revealed that extracts and phytochemical constituents isolated from E. transvaalense have antibacterial, antifungal, anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, anti-protozoan, anti-pyretic, hypoglycaemic, larvicidal, cytotoxicity, and mutagenic activities. Elaeodendron transvalense should to be subjected to detailed phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological evaluations aimed at correlating the medicinal uses of the species with the ethnopharmacological properties of the species.
Keywords: Celastraceae; Elaeodendron transvaalense; herbal medicine; southern Africa.