Ethnobotanical profiling of some of the medicinal plants used in treatment of inflammation by the Vhavenda of Limpopo Province, South Africa

Traditional utilization of medicinal plants against diabetes mellitus (DM) is common in South Africa and other African countries. This study was aimed at documenting medicinal plants used against DM by the Bapedi and Vhavenda ethnic groups of the Limpopo province, South Africa. This study was based on a review of literature published in scientific journals, books, reports from national, regional, and international organizations, theses and conference papers obtained from libraries and electronic databases. A total of 61 plant species belonging to 39 botanical families, mainly the Fabaceae (n=6), Asteraceae (n=5), and Cucurbitaceae (n=4) were used by Bapedi (n=33) and Vhavenda (n=25) to treat and manage DM. Cassia abbreviata, Momordica balsamina, and Moringa oleifera are used by both the Bapedi and Vhavenda people. Plant parts widely used to prepare DM medicines include roots (40.0%), leaves (27.0%), bark (15.0%), and whole plant (7.0%). Monotherapy preparations made from a single plant species are the most dominant (88.5%) while 11.5% are prepared from a combination of two or more species. More than half (65.5%) of the species used to treat and manage DM are known to possess antidiabetic activities and various secondary metabolites. This study illustrates the importance of medicinal plants in the treatment and management of DM in South Africa.

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Exploring indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants used to treat COVID-19 related symptoms

Technium Social Sciences Journal ◽

10.47577/tssj.v25i1.4938 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 798-806

Author(s):

Sejabaledi A. Rankoana

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Medicinal Plants ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Preventive Medicine ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Ethnobotanical Study ◽

Community Members ◽

Safety And Efficacy ◽

Form Part ◽

Indigenous Plant

The purpose of this study was to describe the indigenous plant-derived medicine used to treat symptoms related to four of the most common symptoms of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data presented in this study form part of a medical ethnobotanical study conducted in Limpopo Province, South Africa between 2012 and 2019. The study recorded 89 plant species identified as sources of medicine. Of these plants, 13 species belonging to 9 botanical families were used as sources of medicine to cure influenza, cough, sore throat and fever, while 5 species belonging to 5 botanical families were sources of preventive medicine. The treatment of the four symptoms is accomplished through the administration of oral decoctions, steaming and infusions, while preventive medicine is in the form of infusion, decoction, chew or charm, which is used to prevent susceptibility to infectious diseases such as influenza and cough. Knowledge of these medicines rests with ordinary community members who offer treatment after observations of the symptoms on their family members. The indigenous plant-derived medicines identified in this study may be tested for their safety and efficacy to discover new local, affordable and culture-specific drugs that could be used in the modern phytotherapy for conditions such as COVID-19.

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