Harnessing the ethnomedicinal potentials of Citrus aurantiifolia and Anacardium occidentale for local drug development: A strategy to mitigate Nigeria’s economic challenges

Abstract

Nigeria possesses a vast botanical landscape of 7,895 plant species, in which 963 species are medicinal plants while 6,932 serve other purposes. The global medicinal plant sector is shifting from raw exports toward standardised, plant-based active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), a market projected to reach $271.14 billion by 2026. Nigeria is currently the fifth largest producer of cashew but earns only a few million dollars compared to other countries from a similar production volume. This comprehensive review synthesises current pharmacological and economic data regarding C. aurantiifolia (Lime) and A. occidentale (Cashew) as drivers for Nigeria’s bio-economy. Literature published between 2009 and 2026 was retrieved from five major academic databases, focusing on phytochemical efficacy, safety profiles, and industrial value chains. C. aurantiifolia contains bioactive flavonoids (hesperidin, eriocitrin) with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, while A. occidentale demonstrates significant metabolic, antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials. Also, cashew byproducts like cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) has immense industrial application. The review evaluates the transition from traditional ethnomedicinal use to structured drug discovery pipelines, addressing necessary stages such as bioassay-guided fractionation and toxicity standardisation. The review concludes that, by integrating indigenous botanical knowledge with modern pharmaceutical processing, Nigeria can bridge the gap between ethnomedicine and industrial API production, offering a scientifically-grounded strategy to mitigate national economic challenges.