Terminalia sericea is an African tree endemic to Southern Africa, especially in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Its common names in English are silver cluster leaf or simply cluster leaf. Among the Venda of South Africa it is called mususu whole the Afrikaans calls it vaalbom.
Bioactive Ingredients
In terms of phytochemical composition, the Terminalia sericea species contains a number of beneficial bioactive ingredients such as alkaloids (which gives it a bitter taste), triterpenes and flavonoids. These secondary metabolites have antimicrobial activity including antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus.
Pharmacology
The root and leaf extracts of Terminalia sericea plant are demonstrated through scientific studies to have very high antiviral activity especially anti-herpes activity. Its secondary metabolites inhibit the replication of the herpes simplex virus. One study showed that therapeutic index for Terminalia sericea root extracts rival that of acyclovir-the pharmaceutical drug for herpes.