Sagir Mustapha

Universiti Malaya, Malaysia

Abstract Title:

African and Asian Thalictrum species: a structured review of phytochemistry, pharmacology and evidence quality

Biography:

Sagir Mustapha is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pharmaceutical Life Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. He teaches pharmacology and pharmacotherapy and conducts research on endoplasmic reticulum stress and vascular dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. His work also includes evaluating the phytochemistry and pharmacological evidence of medicinal plants.

Research Interests:

Thalictrum species are used in African and Asian traditional medicine, but the strength of evidence supporting their therapeutic potential remains unclear. This structured review examined their phytochemical diversity, pharmacological activities, and methodological limitations to identify drug-discovery priorities. Literature searches covering January 1980 to December 2025 identified 847 records, of which 94 studies were included. Evidence across 11 species was assessed for experimental controls, extract characterisation, animal validation, mechanistic investigation, and toxicity testing. Isoquinoline alkaloids were prominent constituents, alongside flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, and other phenolics. Reported activities included antimicrobial, antiparasitic, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Research was unevenly distributed, with Thalictrum foliolosum and Thalictrum cultratum receiving substantially greater attention than several other species. Only four species had studies reporting principal-compound quantification or detailed chromatographic profiles. Inadequate controls, inconsistent extract standardisation, limited mechanistic evidence, and incomplete safety assessment restricted reproducibility and interpretation. Available findings support further preclinical investigation but do not establish clinical efficacy or safety. We propose a staged research framework linking ethnomedicinal knowledge and chemical diversity to species prioritisation, bioassay-guided isolation, pharmacokinetic and toxicological evaluation, mechanistic studies, and sustainable production. Integrating rigorous pharmacological validation with cultivation, conservation, and equitable benefit-sharing would provide a stronger basis for assessing Thalictrum-derived compounds as drug leads.