Antiplasmodial potential of Lansium domesticum Corrêa: A systematic review and critical appraisal of preclinical evidence

Background: Although Lansium domesticum Corrêa is widely used in Southeast Asian traditional medicine, its phytochemical diversity and antioxidant activity cannot be considered definitive evidence of antimalarial efficacy. A rigorous synthesis is required to distinguish specific anti-parasitic findings from data that only informs chemical characteristics or host-cell safety.
Objective: This review aims to critically synthesize 17 species-specific primary studies published between 2016 and 2026 to differentiate direct antiplasmodial evidence from translational-enabling data.
Methods: This systematic review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261458422). Systematic searches through July 2026 targeted studies reporting malaria-related endpoints. Evidence was classified as direct (whole-parasite assays, infected-animal models, or parasite-specific targets) or translational-enabling (phytochemical characterization, safety, or mechanistic evidence). Findings were synthesized narratively in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement and the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) reporting guideline.
Results: Seventeen studies were identified: four provided direct evidence and 13 were enabling. Root chloroform and methanol fractions exhibited potent in vitro inhibition (IC50 1.4–3.6 µg/mL), yet in vivo stem-bark data showed a non-monotonic response and a high risk of bias. A significant unit discrepancy (mg/mL vs. µg/mL) was identified in reports for dukunolides, and in silico docking results lack experimental confirmation. Currently, no lead candidate possesses matched parasite-host selectivity, standardized chemistry, or pharmacokinetic data.
Conclusion: Lansium domesticum is currently a source of preclinical leads rather than a validated antimalarial medicine. Future research must prioritize unit verification, standardized same-batch selectivity testing, mechanism validation, and rigorously controlled animal studies.