Search

Persicaria senegalensis (Meisn.) Sojak is an understudied member of the Polygonaceae Juss. family. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the documented knowledge of Persicaria senegalensis , summarising traditional, biological, and phytochemistry to highlight research gaps and emphasise the medicinal potential of this abundant herb to encourage future research that will ultimately facilitate its potential incorporation into evidence-based healthcare practices and sustainable agriculture. PubMed, PubChem, Google Scholar, Scopus, Springer, Science Direct, and books were searched using the following terms: Persicaria senegalensis, Polygonum glutinosum, Polygonum lanigerum, Polygonum sambesiacum, Polygonum senegalense, Polygonum senegalensis, and Amblygonum senegalense. Only articles written in English were included. Articles addressing antioxidant activity were excluded. In addition to its ecological value as a heavy metal extractant and nutrient accumulator, it has a rich history of traditional uses, throughout Africa for the treatment of hemorrhoids, abdominal pain, diarrhea, malaria, skin troubles, syphilis, ectoparasites, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and gynecological infections. Biological activities investigated include anti-feedant effects, sub-clinical mastitis, larvicidal, molluscicidal, anticancer, antibacterial, and anti-diabetes effects. Several compounds have been isolated from this species and investigated for their antiplasmodial, larvicidal and anti-schistosomiasis activity. Many traditional uses of P. senegalensis remain uninvestigated and should be considered for future studies. Furthermore, studies confirming safety, efficacy, and the identification of active principles are lacking and would contribute to the value and applicability of current research findings. [Display omitted] • Persicaria senegalensis is a member of Polygonaceae Juss. • Traditional use: hemorrhoids, abdominal pain, diarrhea, malaria, skin troubles, syphilis, ectoparasites, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, gynecological infections, antimicrobial, ulcers, abortifacient, livestock-related ailments, fever, anti-parasitic, sedative. • Bioactivity: anti-feedant, -cancer, -microbial, mastitis, larvicidal, molluscicidal, diabetes. • Isolated compounds exhibit bioactivity that support traditional use. • This review highlights and identifies research gaps for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genera included in Polygoneae such as Atraphaxis, Duma, Fallopia, Muehlenbeckia, Polygonella, Polygonum, Oxygonum, and Reynoutria are investigated using a molecular framework. Previous morphological studies had indicated that Polygonum is composed of sections Duravia, Polygonum, and Pseudomollia with the genus Polygonella included as a subsection of Polygonum sect. Duravia. One nuclear (nrITS) and three chloroplast (matK, ndhF, trnL-trnF) regions were analyzed with Maximum Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood methods to address evolutionary relationships within the tribe. The results show that Polygoneae is composed of three main clades: Knorringia as sister to all other taxa within Polygoneae, a clade of Reynoutria and Fallopia+Muehlenbeckia, and their sister clade of Atraphaxis, Duma, and Polygonum. The currently accepted sections within Polygonum are recovered and Polygonum sect. Duravia is sister to sections Polygonum and Pseudomollia. With Polygonella included in Polygonum, the appropriate new combinations and names are proposed. In addition, a few species of Polygonum are transferred to Atraphaxis. Oxygonum is not supported as a member of Polygoneae and its exact position awaits additional data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]