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\def\RunningAuthor{Alfred Maroyi}
\firstPage{5089}
\articleType{Review Article}
\receivedDate{10 Jul 2020}
\acceptedDate{18 Aug 2020}
\revisedDate{16 Aug 2020}
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\title{\textit{\textbf{Maerua edulis}} \textbf{ (Gilg \& Gilg-Ben.) DeWolf: A review of its ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties}}
\author{Alfred~Maroyi\textsuperscript{*}~\\[5pt]{Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa}}

\begin{abstract}
\textit{Maerua edulis} (Gilg \& Gilg-Ben.) DeWolf\textit{\space } is collected from the wild for its edible fruits and also used as traditional medicine. This study is aimed at evaluating the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of \textit{M. edulis}. Results of the current study are based on data derived from several online databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed and Science Direct, and pre-electronic sources such as scientific publications, books, dissertations, book chapters and journal articles. This study revealed that the bark, fruit, leaf, root and tuber infusion and decoction of \textit{M. edulis } are mainly used as a thirst quencher and ethnoveterinary medicine, and traditional medicine for eye infections, stomach ache, infertility in women, wounds, fungal infections, rheumatic swellings, cough and tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases. Phytochemical compounds identified from the species include agmatine, betaines, cardiac glycosides, fatty acids, flavonoids and quaternary ammonium compounds. Ethnopharmacological research revealed that \textit{M. edulis} extracts and compounds isolated from the species have acaricidal, anthelmintic, antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antifungal, antiproliferative and insecticidal activities. Future research on \textit{M. edulis} should focus on the possible biochemical mechanisms of both the crude extracts and identified phytochemical compounds including toxicological, \textit{in vivo} and clinical studies to corroborate the traditional medicinal applications of the species. 
\end{abstract}\def\keywordstitle{Keywords}

\begin{keywords}Capparaceae,\newline Indigenous pharmacopoeia,\newline Maerua edulis,\newline Traditional medicine
\end{keywords}
\twocolumn[ \maketitle {\printKwdAbsBox}]
\makeatletter{\raggedright\textsuperscript{*}Corresponding Author\par Name:\ Alfred~Maroyi~\\ Phone:\ 0027406022322~\\  Email:\ amaroyi@ufh.ac.za
        \par}\vspace*{-11pt}\hrulefill\par{\fontsize{12}{14}\selectfont ISSN: 0975-7538}\par% 
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\section{Introduction}
\textit{Maerua edulis} (Gilg \& Gilg-Ben.) DeWolf\textit{\space } is a small shrub belonging to the Capparaceae or caper family. The Capparaceae family is a tropical and subtropical taxon of trees, shrubs, herbs and lianas consisting of approximately 417 species \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065044,1428032:25065026}. The genus \textit{Maerua} Forssk has been recorded in tropical and southern Africa, and tropical Asia with about 60 species recorded from the African continent \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065035,1428032:25065037}. 

The English common name of \textit{M. edulis} is a blue-leaved bush berry, and the species has been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Synonyms that are associated with the name \textit{M. edulis} include \textit{Courbonia bussei} Gilg \& Gilg-Ben., \textit{C. calothamna} Gilg \& Gilg-Ben., \textit{C. camporum} Gilg \& Gilg-Ben., \textit{C. decumbens} Brongn., \textit{C. edulis} Gilg \& Gilg-Ben., \textit{C. glauca} (Klotzsch) Gilg \& Gilg-Ben., \textit{C. prunicarpa} Gilg \& Gilg-Ben., \textit{M. camporum} Gilg \& Gilg-Ben., \textit{M. decumbens} (Brongn.) DeWolf and \textit{Physanthemum glaucum} Klotzsch \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065050,1428032:25065041}. \textit{Maerua edulis} is an evergreen shrub reaching three metres in height with thick, perennial and swollen tuberous rootstock. The main stem is multi-stemmed with stiff and spreading branches from near the base with young branches covered in a bluish wax layer. The leaves are alternate, simple, fleshy, hairless and entire, broadly lanceolate to ovate in shape and bluish-green in colour. 

The leaves have a rounded apex with a bristle-tip and a rounded base. The flowers are bisexual, yellow-green in colour, borne singly in the upper leaf axils. The fruit is a globose or oval capsule, bluish-green at first, turning yellow-orange when ripe. The seeds are discoid, smooth and pale brown. \textit{Maerua edulis} has been recorded in sandy areas, light clay soils and in rocky areas in the riverine thicket in Acacia bushland and woodland, Acacia desert grassland, deciduous or semi-evergreen bushland, bushed grassland, wooded grassland, \textit{Colophospermum mopane} (Benth.) Leonard woodland, often near seasonal rivers or lakes and burnt grassland at an altitude ranging from sea level to 1,850 m above sea level \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065027}. 

The fruits and leaves of \textit{M. edulis} are considered edible throughout the distributional range of the species \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065047,1428032:25065036}. The ripe yellow fruits are sweet and widely eaten by children herding livestock, and the fruits are also regarded as a famine food. The fruits are usually eaten fresh, and in some areas, the fruits are boiled first, and the water is thrown away before eating \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065036}. 

The roots of \textit{M. edulis} are eaten during food shortages in Tanzania, but death often occurs when the roots are eaten in excess. The roots of \textit{M. edulis} are widely used in Kenya to purify and reduce the turbidity of water. This evergreen shrub is used as an ornamental plant, live fence, hedge, bee forage and fodder for livestock \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065036}. \textit{Maerua edulis} is regarded as poisonous, and in Tanzania and Zimbabwe, the leaves, roots and whole plant parts of the species are used as a fish poison. In Tanzania, root powder of \textit{M. edulis} is applied to the funnel of maize (\textit{Zea mays} L.) as a control for stalk borer and to control pests on stored maize \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065036}. 

In Zimbabwe, the leaf extract of \textit{M. edulis} is used as an insecticide. The leaves and roots of \textit{M. edulis} are sold as traditional medicines in the informal herbal medicine markets in the Limpopo province in South Africa. Thus, this review aims to provide an integrated and detailed appraisal of the existing knowledge on the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of \textit{M. edulis} in an attempt to explore the therapeutic and functional potential of this species.
    
\section{\textbf{METHODS}}
Results of the current study are based on a literature search on the phytochemistry, pharmacological properties and medicinal uses of \textit{M. edulis }using information derived from several internet databases. The databases included Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed and Science Direct. Other sources of information used included pre-electronic sources such as journal articles, theses, books, book chapters and other scientific articles obtained from the university library.
    
\section{\textbf{RESULTS AND DISCUSSION}}
\textbf{Medicinal uses of } \textit{\textbf{Maerua edulis }} \textbf{\space }

The bark, fruit, leaf, root and tuber infusion and decoction of \textit{M. edulis } are mainly used as a thirst quencher and ethnoveterinary medicine, and traditional medicine for eye infections, stomach ache, infertility in women, wounds, fungal infections, rheumatic swellings, cough and tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases (Table~\ref{tw-35a4c207bb3a}, Figure~\ref{f-0cad50b01f5c}). Other medicinal applications supported by at two literature reports include the use of bark, fruit, leaf, root and tuber infusion and decoction as an insecticide, pesticide and stimulant, and traditional medicine against allergies, pain and sore joints (Table~\ref{tw-35a4c207bb3a}). In Tanzania, the roots of \textit{M. edulis} are mixed with leaves of \textit{Boscia mossambicensis} Klotzsch (family Capparaceae) as ethnoveterinary medicine against poultry diseases \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065048}. In Zimbabwe, the roots of\textit{ M. edulis} are mixed with fruits of \textit{Solanum incanum} L. (family Solanaceae) as ethnoveterinary medicine against ticks \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065053}.


\begin{table*}[!htbp]
\caption{\boldmath {Medicinal uses of \textit{Maerua edulis }} }
\label{tw-35a4c207bb3a}
\def\arraystretch{1.1}
\ignorespaces 
\centering 
\begin{tabulary}{\linewidth}{p{\dimexpr.25\linewidth-2\tabcolsep}p{\dimexpr.2666\linewidth-2\tabcolsep}p{\dimexpr.2334\linewidth-2\tabcolsep}p{\dimexpr.25\linewidth-2\tabcolsep}}
\tbltoprule \rowcolor{kwdboxcolor}Medicinal use & Plant part & Country & \cAlignHack Reference\\
\tblmidrule 
Allergies &
  Leaf infusion and decoction applied topically &
  Tanzania &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065027}\\
Cough and tuberculosis &
  Root and tuber infusion and decoction are taken orally  &
  Mozambique and Uganda &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065024,1428032:25065036}\\
Eye infections &
  Bark and roots infusion and decoction applied topically  &
  Tanzania &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065033}\\
Fungal infections &
  Tuber infusion and decoction applied topically  &
  South Africa &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065045,1428032:25065036}\\
Infertility in women &
  Root infusion and decoction are taken orally &
  Mozambique &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065036,1428032:25065039}\\
Insecticide &
  Leaves &
  Zimbabwe &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\cite{1428032:25065036}\\
Laxative &
  Root infusion and decoction are taken orally  &
  Tanzania &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065027}\\
Pain &
  Fruits and leaves infusion and decoction applied topically  &
  Tanzania &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065033}\\
K &
  Roots &
  Tanzania &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065036}\\
Rheumatic swellings &
  Fruits and leaves infusion and decoction applied topically &
  Tanzania &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065033}\\
Sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhoea, syphilis and venereal diseases) &
  Bark, roots and tubers infusions and decoctions are taken orally  &
  South Africa and Tanzania &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065033,1428032:25065045}\\
Sore joints &
  Root infusion and decoction applied topically  &
  Kenya &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065033}\\
Stimulant &
  Root infusion and decoction are taken orally  &
  Tanzania &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065036}\\
Stomach ache &
  Root infusion and decoction are taken orally  &
  Mozambique &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065036,1428032:25065039}\\
Thirst quencher &
  Roots &
  Kenya &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065027}\\
Wounds &
  Tuber infusion and decoction applied topically  &
  South Africa &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065045,1428032:25065036}\\
Ethnoveterinary medicine (anthelmintic and ticks)  &
  Leaves and tubers &
  Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065034,1428032:25065030}\\
Poultry diseases &
  Roots mixed with leaves of Boscia mossambicensis Klotzsch &
  Tanzania &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065048}\\
Ticks &
  Roots mixed with fruits of Solanum incanum L. &
  Zimbabwe &
  \cAlignHack \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065053}\\
\tblbottomrule 
\end{tabulary}\par 
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[!htbp]
\caption{\boldmath {Nutritional and phytochemical composition of \textit{Maerua edulis}} }
\label{tw-afae1469b59d}
\def\arraystretch{1.1}
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\tbltoprule \rowcolor{kwdboxcolor}Nutritional and chemical compound & Value & Plant part & Reference\\
\tblmidrule 
3-hydroxyprolinebetaine &
  - &
  Aerial parts and whole plant &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065028}\\
3-hydroxystachydrine &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
3-hydroxy-1,1-dimethyl pyridinium &
  - &
  Aerial parts and whole plant &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065028}\\
4-hydroxy-Z-cinnamoyl-4-aminobutylguanidine  &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
4-hydroxy-E-cinnamoyl-4-aminobutylguanidine &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Cardiac glycosides &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065049}\\
Cinnamoylagmatine hexoside &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Chromium (mg/kg) &
  2.7 - 5.1 &
  Fruits, leaves and roots &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065029}\\
Crude protein (\%) &
  29.0 &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065036}\\
Dry matter digestibility (\%) &
  89.0 &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065036}\\
E-cinnamoyl-4-aminobutylguanidine &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Feruloylagmatine &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Feruloylagmatine hexoside &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Flavonoids &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065049}\\
Glycinebetaine  &
  - &
  Aerial parts and whole plant &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065028}\\
Hydroxycoumaroylagmatine &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Hydroxyferuloyl agmatine &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Methoxycinnamoylagmatine &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Methylcoumaroylagmatine hexoside &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Methylferuloylagmatine hexoside &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
N1-(3,4-Dimethoxy-E-cinnamoylagmatine) &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Non-digestible fibre (\%) &
  31.0 &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065036}\\
Prolinebetaine ethyl ester &
  - &
  Aerial parts and whole plant &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065028}\\
Prolinebetaine &
  - &
  Aerial parts and whole plant &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065028}\\
Selenium (\ensuremath{\mu}g/kg) &
  94.8 {\textendash} 111.4 &
  Fruits, leaves and roots &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065029}\\
Sinapoylagmatine &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Sinapoylagmatine hexoside &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Stachydrine  &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Tetramethylammonium &
  - &
  Aerial parts and whole plant &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065028}\\
Vanadium (mg/kg) &
  5.7 {\textendash} 9.0 &
  Fruits, leaves and roots &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065054}\\
Z-cinnamoyl-4-aminobutylguanidine &
  - &
  Leaves &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}\\
Zinc (mg/kg) &
  25.9 {\textendash} 57.3 &
  Fruits, leaves and roots &
  \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065029}\\
\tblbottomrule 
\end{tabulary}\par 
\end{table*}

\bgroup
\fixFloatSize{images/83e3e895-3461-457b-bf53-eb1bf61bc73e-upicture1.png}
\begin{figure}[!htbp]
\centering \makeatletter\IfFileExists{images/83e3e895-3461-457b-bf53-eb1bf61bc73e-upicture1.png}{\includegraphics{images/83e3e895-3461-457b-bf53-eb1bf61bc73e-upicture1.png}}{}
\makeatother 
\caption{\boldmath {Medicinal applications of \textit{Maerua edulis} derived from literature records}}
\label{f-0cad50b01f5c}
\end{figure}
\egroup
\textbf{Nutritional and phytochemistry of \textit{Maerua edulis }}

Some researchers identified nutritional elements and phytochemical compounds from the fruits, leaves and roots of \textit{M. edulis} include agmatine, betaines, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, nutritional compounds, quaternary ammonium compounds and trace elements (Table~\ref{tw-afae1469b59d}).\textbf{\space }\unskip~\cite{1428032:25065024} identified linear chain unsaturated fatty acids from the roots of \textit{M. edulis}. Some of these phytochemical compounds may be responsible for the biological activities of the species.

\textbf{Pharmacological properties of \textit{Maerua edulis }}

The following pharmacological activities have been documented from the leaves, roots and tubers of \textit{M. edulis} and compound isolated from the species: acaricidal, anthelmintic, antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antifungal, antiproliferative and insecticidal activities. 

\textbf{Acaricidal activities}

\unskip~\cite{1428032:25065034} and \unskip~\cite{1428032:25065025} evaluated the acaricidal activities of aqueous extracts of \textit{M. edulis} leaves against \textit{Rhipicephalus appendiculatus} cattle tick larvae. The extracts exhibited activities demonstrating the efficacy of 51.0\% against the tested tick larvae \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065034,1428032:25065025}. \unskip~\cite{1428032:25065054} evaluated the acaricidal activities of aqueous, hexane and methanol extracts of \textit{M. edulis} leaves against \textit{Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus} tick larvae with commercial amitraz-based acaricide (Tickbuster) as a positive control. The highest activity (98.0\%) was observed in methanol extract, causing larvae mortality which was comparable to the activities of the positive control \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065054}. \unskip~\cite{1428032:25065030} evaluated the \textit{in vivo} acaricidal activities of crude aqueous extracts of \textit{M. edulis} leaves and tubers at concentrations of 10.0\% w/v against cattle ticks with commercial amitraz-based acaricide (Tickbuster) as a positive control. The tuber extract exhibited activities which were comparable to activities exhibited by the amitraz-based acaricide positive control \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065030}. \unskip~\cite{1428032:25065040} evaluated the acaricidal activities of acetone, and crude water extracts of \textit{M. edulis} leaves and tubers with or without liquid soap against \textit{Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus} ticks using the Shaw larval immersion test method with commercial amitraz-based acaricide as a positive control. The non-polar fractions of the acetone extract of leaf and tuber caused up to 100.0\% mortality of the ticks \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065040}.

\textbf{Anthelmintic activities}

\unskip~\cite{1428032:25065052} evaluated the anthelmintic activities of the water extract of \textit{M. edulis} tuber against gastro-intestinal nematodes in sheep. The extract demonstrated a 49.0\% reduction of worm egg count \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065052}. \unskip~\cite{1428032:25065051} and \unskip~\cite{1428032:25065038} evaluated the anthelmintic activities of the water extract of \textit{M. edulis} root using mice that had been experimentally infected with the intestinal nematode \textit{Heligmosomoides polygyrus}. The mice were administered with extract at a dosage of 5.0 gm/kg, 10.0 gm/kg and 20.0 gm/kg body weight and faecal worm egg count reduction determined after seven days of treatment. The results showed a percentage of faecal \textit{Heligmosomoides polygyrus} egg count reduction of 69.0\% to 16.0\% \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065051,1428032:25065038}.

\textbf{Antibacterial activities}

\unskip~\cite{1428032:25065031} evaluated the antibacterial activities of aqueous, n-hexane and methanol extracts of \textit{M. edulis} roots against \textit{Bacillus cereus}, \textit{Staphylococcus aureus}, \textit{Escherichia coli}, \textit{Pseudomonas aeruginosa}, \textit{Klebsiella pneumoniae} and \textit{Salmonella typhimurium} using a liquid dilution method with ampicillin and rifampicin as positive controls. The n-hexane extract exhibited activities against \textit{Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus} and \textit{Klebsiella pneumoniae} with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 500.0 \ensuremath{\mu}g/ml to 1000.0 \ensuremath{\mu}g/ml against MIC values of 0.1 \ensuremath{\mu}g/ml to 0.6 \ensuremath{\mu}g/ml exhibited by the positive control \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065031}. \unskip~\cite{1428032:25065032} evaluated the antibacterial activities of chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of \textit{M. edulis} leaves against \textit{Salmonella kisarawe, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae}, \textit{Pseudomonas aeruginosa}, \textit{Proteus mirabilis}, \textit{Escherichia coli} and \textit{Salmonella typhi} using microdilution methods with gentamycin as a positive control. The chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited activities with MIC values ranging from 1.6 mg/mL to 25.0 mg/mL \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065032}.

\textbf{Antimycobacterial activities}

\unskip~\cite{1428032:25065043,1428032:25065024} evaluated the \textit{in vitro} antimycobacterial activities of n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and 70\% ethanol extracts of \textit{M. edulis} roots against \textit{Mycobacterium smegmatis}, \textit{Mycobacterium tuberculosis}, \textit{Mycobacterium avium} and \textit{Mycobacterium Bovis} using the broth microdilution method with isoniazid, kanamycin, puromycin and rifampicin as positive controls. Only n-hexane extract exhibited activities with MIC values ranging from 31.2 \ensuremath{\mu }g/mL to 250.0 \ensuremath{\mu }g/mL \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065043,1428032:25065024}.

\textbf{Antifungal activities }

\unskip~\cite{1428032:25065031} evaluated antifungal activities of aqueous, n-hexane and methanol extracts of \textit{M. edulis} roots against \textit{Aspergillus niger} and \textit{Candida albicans} using a liquid dilution method with flucytosine as a positive control. The aqueous extract exhibited activities against \textit{Candida albicans} with the MIC value of 1000.0 \ensuremath{\mu}g/ml against MIC value of 0.06 \ensuremath{\mu}g/ml exhibited by the positive control \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065031}. \unskip~\cite{1428032:25065045} evaluated the antifungal activities of acetone and hexane root extracts of \textit{M. edulis} against \textit{Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida krusei} and \textit{Candida albicans} isolated from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDs) patients using agar diffusion and the microdilution methods with nystatin (10.0 \ensuremath{\mu}l) and flourocystosine (10.0 \ensuremath{\mu}l) as positive controls. The extracts exhibited activities against tested pathogens with MIC values ranging from 1.0 mg/ml to 7.5 mg/ml in comparison to MIC values of 0.2 \ensuremath{\mu }g/ml to 1.9 \ensuremath{\mu }g/ml exhibited by the positive controls \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065045}. \unskip~\cite{1428032:25065049} evaluated the antifungal activities of crude extracts of \textit{M. edulis} leaves against \textit{Aspergillus flavus} using agar well diffusion method with miconazole (10.0 mg/ml) as the positive control. The extract exhibited weak activities with a zone of inhibition of 7.0 mm against the zone of inhibition of 19.4 mm exhibited by the positive control \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065049}.

\textbf{Antiproliferative activities}

\unskip~\cite{1428032:25065039} evaluated the antiproliferative activities of aqueous, acetone, hexane and methanol extracts of \textit{M. edulis} roots against human leukemic Jurkat-T cell line using 1,3-bis (2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) as a reference drug. The methanol extract inhibited the growth of Jurkat-T cells in a dose-dependent manner with half-maximal growth inhibition cell proliferation (GI\ensuremath{_{50}}) value of 18.5 \ensuremath{\mu }g/ml \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065039}.

\textbf{Insecticidal activities}

\unskip~\cite{1428032:25065046} evaluated the insecticidal activities of crude aqueous extracts of \textit{M. edulis} leave against pests of cabbage (\textit{Brassica oleracea }L.), \textit{Plutella xylostella} and rape (\textit{Brassica namus }L.), \textit{Brevicoryne brassicae} with commercial synthetic pesticides used as positive controls. The extracts exhibited activities at a concentration of 5.0\% to 20.0\% w/v \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065046}. \unskip~\cite{1428032:25065042} evaluated the insecticidal activities of the crude \textit{M. edulis} leaf extracts and the compounds 4-hydroxy-Z-cinnamoyl-4-aminobutylguanidine, 4-hydroxy-E-cinnamoyl-4-aminobutylguanidine, E-cinnamoyl-4-aminobutylguanidine and Z-cinnamoyl-4-aminobutylguanidine isolated from the species against the cowpea (\textit{Vigna unguiculata} (L.) Walp.) bruchid \textit{Callosobruchus maculatus} at concentrations equivalent to those present in extracts used by smallholder farmers with rotenone as the positive control. The extracts and the compounds exhibited activities against the tested insect \unskip~\citep{1428032:25065042}.
    
\section{Conclusion}
\textit{Maerua edulis }is known to be poisonous, and there is a need for detailed clinical and toxicological evaluations of crude extracts and compounds isolated from the species. Therefore, the widespread use of \textit{M. edulis} as food plant and source of traditional medicines throughout its distributional range suggest that the species is not taken at toxic dosages. But the use of \textit{M. edulis} as food and for the treatment of human diseases and ailments should be treated with caution and rigorous toxicological and clinical studies of the bark, fruits, leaves, roots and tubers, and compounds isolated from the species are necessary.
    
\section{\textbf{ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS}}
I am grateful to the reviewers who kindly commented on my manuscript.

\textbf{Funding support}

The author declares that there is no funding support for this study.

\textbf{Conflict of interest}

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest for this study.
    

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