Siphonochilus aethiopicus: A Comprehensive Review of its Therapeutic Application for Alleviating Symptoms of Allergic and Infectious Respiratory Diseases Natural Product Chemistry

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Siphonochilus aethiopicus
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Published: Apr 25, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.63654/icms.2025.02005
Keywords:
Siphonochilus aethiopicus, furanoterpenoids, respiratory diseases, phytochemistry

Main Article Content

Dr. Gerda Fouche
Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2123-7774
Schalk van Rooyen
Laeveld Agrochem, Pretoria, South Africa.
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9672-9542

Abstract

Siphonochilus aethiopicus, is a medicinal plant traditionally used in South Africa to treat respiratory and inflammatory conditions. The plant species is endangered due to overharvesting, necessitating conservation and cultivation efforts.  Scientific studies on S. aethiopicus led to the identification of key bioactive compounds, primarily furanoterpenoids, with demonstrated anti-inflammatory, bronchodilatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Laboratory and animal studies confirm its effectiveness in treating asthma and allergic airway diseases. Preclinical studies demonstrate the plant's effectiveness in models of allergic airway diseases, supporting its role in complementary medicine. This review consolidates ethnopharmacological knowledge, phytochemical composition and pharmacological properties related to S. aethiopicus, highlighting its potential therapeutic applications. 

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Siphonochilus aethiopicus: A Comprehensive Review of its Therapeutic Application for Alleviating Symptoms of Allergic and Infectious Respiratory Diseases: Natural Product Chemistry. (2025). Innovation of Chemistry & Materials for Sustainability, 2(1), 5-11. https://doi.org/10.63654/icms.2025.02005
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Vol. 2 No. 1 (2025)
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Review Article
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Dr. Gerda Fouche, Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

Dr. Gerda Fouche is a scientist with more than 30 years of experience. She served as the Scientific Innovation Leader for the Natural Product Group at the CSIR Biosciences, where her responsibilities included group administrative functions, leadership, mentoring, and effective management of large projects. The research projects focused on the discovery and development of drug and natural product leads derived from the biodiversity of South Africa. Currently, she is an Extraordinary Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Pretoria. Her research focuses on the organic chemistry of medicinal plants. This work involves the purification, isolation, and structural elucidation of active constituents present in these medicinal plants.

Schalk van Rooyen, Laeveld Agrochem, Pretoria, South Africa.

Schalk van Rooyen is a technical consultant at Laeveld Agrochem in Pretoria, South Africa and guest scientific speaker at high schools and private colleges and on television programs from time to time. He is also a qualified nutritional consultant and independent researcher in the fields of natural product chemistry, biology and biochemistry with a special focus on human disease mechanisms and the specific therapeutic functioning of marker molecules and extracts of medicinal plants on a cellular level.

How to Cite

Siphonochilus aethiopicus: A Comprehensive Review of its Therapeutic Application for Alleviating Symptoms of Allergic and Infectious Respiratory Diseases: Natural Product Chemistry. (2025). Innovation of Chemistry & Materials for Sustainability, 2(1), 5-11. https://doi.org/10.63654/icms.2025.02005

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