Medicinal and Economic Value of Dialium Guineense

Abstract

Dialium guineense (Velvet tamarind, family: Fabaceae) is reported for its food and nutritional value throughout Africa. The medicinal properties of D. guineense leaves and other parts of the plant are also well known in traditional system of medicine. The plant has been studied by various scientists and researchers for its pharmacological activities and therapeutic approaches such as antibacterial, anti-ulcer, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-hepatotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-plasmodial, anti-hemmorrhoidal, anti-vibrio, anti-diarrheal, molluscicidal, oral care and vitamin supplement. We reviewed the folk medicinal value of D. guineense with the correlated research findings on its uses. The plant was described with habitat, the local uses, including the uses of its parts mentioned, the ethno medicinal uses, the biological activities, the nutritional value and phytochemistry