A review of traditional uses, phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of selected members of Clausena genus (Rutaceae)

The present review describes the morphological, traditional, phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of the most medicinally important members of Clausena genus.Clausena excavata, Clausena anisata, Clausena lansium, Clausena harmandiata, Clausena anisum-olens and Clausena dentata are the targeted species for investigation in this review. The selected members of the genus Clausena which belongs to the Rutaceae family represent the most important sources of phytochemicals, particularly alkaloids, coumarins, limonoids and essential oils. The aim of this review paper is to investigate in a systematic way, the more recent developments in the phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of this genus as well as the traditional uses of its members. The species in which the largest numbers of secondary metabolites have been identified are C. excavata and C. anisata. Pharmacological investigations have also been made, however, of other species in this genus. Accordingly, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of the two former mentioned species as well as the lesser known species of the genus is demonstrated here. This present paper enumerates an overview of its phytochemical and pharmacological properties, which may provide assistance to researchers to determine further, the efficacy and potency of Clausena genus members as medicinal plants.   Key words: Ethonpharmacology, secondary metabolites, coumarins, bioactivities, anticancer, phytomedicine.