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Abstract Background Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (W. somnifera) is a herb commonly known by its English name as Winter Cherry. Africa is indigenous to many medicinal plants and natural products. However, there is inadequate documentation of medicinal plants, including W. somnifera, in Africa. There is, therefore, a need for a comprehensive compilation of research outcomes of this reviewed plant as used in traditional medicine in different regions of Africa. Methodology Scientific articles and publications were scooped and sourced from high-impact factor journals and filtered with relevant keywords on W. somnifera. Scientific databases, including GBIF, PubMed, NCBI, Google Scholar, Research Gate, Science Direct, SciFinder, and Web of Science, were accessed to identify the most influential articles and recent breakthroughs published on the contexts of ethnography, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and commercialization of W. somnifera. Results This critical review covers the W. somnifera ethnography, phytochemistry, and ethnomedicinal usage to demonstrate the use of the plant in Africa and elsewhere to prevent or alleviate several pathophysiological conditions, including cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, reproductive impotence, as well as other chronic diseases. Conclusion W. somnifera is reportedly safe for administration in ethnomedicine as several research outcomes confirmed its safety status. The significance of commercializing this plant in Africa for drug development is herein thoroughly covered to provide the much-needed highlights towards its cultivations economic benefit to Africa.

Abstract Background Most medicinal plants presently employed in traditional medicine are used without scientific evidence, thereby suggesting a need to explore efficient and reliable investigations of their potential. We, therefore, conducted the present study to ascertain the efficacy of flavonoid-rich extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum sterm-bark in the treatment and management of inflammatory disorders as employed in folk medicine. Materials and methods Flavonoid-rich extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum sterm-bark and a total of fifty-five (55) Wistar rats were used for this study. Eighteen (18) mice were used for toxicity testing, and the phytochemical analysis was done using the Trease and Evans method, while the acute toxicity was done using Lorke’s method. In vivo anti-inflammatory study was done using the egg albumin-induced paw oedema method, while the in vitro anti-inflammatory studies were performed for the extract using phospholipase A2 inhibition and calcium chloride-induced platelet aggregation assays. Results The phytochemical analysis revealed that the extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum sterm-bark contains tannins, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, and saponins ranging from 0.307 ± 0.02 to 1279.567 ± 149.868. The acute toxicity test of the extract showed no toxicity up to 5000 mg/kg body weight. In the systemic oedema of the rat paw, scalar doses of the extract significantly (p