A Review of the Multifaceted Plant, Desmodium canum: The Traditional and Ethnopharmacological Applications and its Potential Use in Medicine

Desmodium canum is a perennial herb that grows wildly in many territories. In these regions, the leaves, stems and roots of the plant are employed in traditional tonics and teas for their potential medicinal properties. This review aims at compiling and documenting the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological effects of the plant, along with its potential medicinal applications. A literature review and analysis was conducted to report on the studies that highlighted the traditional and pharmacological applications of the plant, D. canum. The use of the plant is based on folkloric claims with a wealth of anecdotal reports on its health benefits. Recently, studies have added credence to its use in the treatment of a variety of illnesses. There is overwhelming evidence that supports several pharmacological properties of the plant, including its hypoglycaemic, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, hypotensive androgenic and antioxidant properties. Furthermore, bioactive compounds have been isolated from the plant’s extracts with potencies rivalling that of modern medicine. Given the numerous bioactivities of the plant, it is being postulated that compounds (or their derivatives) may be effective in combatting both physiological and pathogenic diseases such as diabetes and pneumonia, respectively. The review underscores the multifaceted pharmacological nature of Desmodium canum and reports on its potential applications in medicine. Potentially, with additional studies, the naturally isolated compounds can be incorporated in both nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals to improve the availability of treatment options for several illnesses.