Medicinal plants used in traditional treatment of malaria in Ethiopia: a review of ethnomedicine, anti-malarial and toxicity studies
Abstract Background Malaria is extremely common in Ethiopia, and it is one of the country's most serious public health and economic problems. Traditional medicines have long been utilized in Ethiopia by people of various ethnic groups. As a result, the goal of this study is to record the use of...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04264-w |
| _version_ | 1811211488079118336 |
|---|---|
| author | Gashaw Nigussie Minychel Wale |
| author_facet | Gashaw Nigussie Minychel Wale |
| author_sort | Gashaw Nigussie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Malaria is extremely common in Ethiopia, and it is one of the country's most serious public health and economic problems. Traditional medicines have long been utilized in Ethiopia by people of various ethnic groups. As a result, the goal of this study is to record the use of Ethiopian medicinal herbs that have been used to treat malaria. Also, a critical review of the literature on the therapeutic properties of these and other Ethiopian medicinal plants that have been tested against Plasmodium spp. parasites was conducted with the goal of highlighting neglected studies and fostering further research in this area. Methods A comprehensive literature search was performed in Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) from August 2021 to October 2021. The study databases included original articles published in peer reviewed journals covering anti-malarial plants, dated until October 2021. Results The review looked at 51 plant species (28 families) that have been used to treat malaria in Ethiopia. The most often used ethnobotanical plant species for the treatment of malaria were Allium sativum, Croton macrostachyus, Carica papaya, and Lepidium sativum. Leaves were used more frequently as a therapeutic preparation than other parts. Plant extracts were found to have very good, good, and moderate anti-malarial activity in mice with rodent Plasmodium species. The most active species were Ajuga remota and Capsicum frufescens, which suppressed parasitaemia by 77.34% and 72.65%, respectively, at an oral dose of 100 mg/kg and an LD50 of above 2000 mg/kg. The compound Aloinoside reported from Aloe macrocarpa leave latex was the most potent; it suppressed parasitaemia by 100% at 400 mg/kg oral dose of Plasmodium berghei infected mice, and its LD50 was above 2000 mg/kg. Toxicity was shown to be safe in 84% of the plant extracts. Conclusion In Ethiopia, medicinal plants have a significant part in reducing the severity of malaria due to their widespread use. As a result, more studies are needed to identify and develop effective novel drugs that could be employed in broader malaria eradication efforts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:14:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a679d88edc2a447ca07556175dcbd377 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:14:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-a679d88edc2a447ca07556175dcbd3772022-12-22T03:46:41ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752022-09-0121111610.1186/s12936-022-04264-wMedicinal plants used in traditional treatment of malaria in Ethiopia: a review of ethnomedicine, anti-malarial and toxicity studiesGashaw Nigussie0Minychel Wale1Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Armauer Hansen Research InstituteDepartment of Pharmacy, All Africa Leprosy, Tuberculosis and Rehabilitation Training CentreAbstract Background Malaria is extremely common in Ethiopia, and it is one of the country's most serious public health and economic problems. Traditional medicines have long been utilized in Ethiopia by people of various ethnic groups. As a result, the goal of this study is to record the use of Ethiopian medicinal herbs that have been used to treat malaria. Also, a critical review of the literature on the therapeutic properties of these and other Ethiopian medicinal plants that have been tested against Plasmodium spp. parasites was conducted with the goal of highlighting neglected studies and fostering further research in this area. Methods A comprehensive literature search was performed in Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) from August 2021 to October 2021. The study databases included original articles published in peer reviewed journals covering anti-malarial plants, dated until October 2021. Results The review looked at 51 plant species (28 families) that have been used to treat malaria in Ethiopia. The most often used ethnobotanical plant species for the treatment of malaria were Allium sativum, Croton macrostachyus, Carica papaya, and Lepidium sativum. Leaves were used more frequently as a therapeutic preparation than other parts. Plant extracts were found to have very good, good, and moderate anti-malarial activity in mice with rodent Plasmodium species. The most active species were Ajuga remota and Capsicum frufescens, which suppressed parasitaemia by 77.34% and 72.65%, respectively, at an oral dose of 100 mg/kg and an LD50 of above 2000 mg/kg. The compound Aloinoside reported from Aloe macrocarpa leave latex was the most potent; it suppressed parasitaemia by 100% at 400 mg/kg oral dose of Plasmodium berghei infected mice, and its LD50 was above 2000 mg/kg. Toxicity was shown to be safe in 84% of the plant extracts. Conclusion In Ethiopia, medicinal plants have a significant part in reducing the severity of malaria due to their widespread use. As a result, more studies are needed to identify and develop effective novel drugs that could be employed in broader malaria eradication efforts.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04264-wAntimalarialEthnomedicineMedicinal plantsEthiopia |
| spellingShingle | Gashaw Nigussie Minychel Wale Medicinal plants used in traditional treatment of malaria in Ethiopia: a review of ethnomedicine, anti-malarial and toxicity studies Malaria Journal Antimalarial Ethnomedicine Medicinal plants Ethiopia |
| title | Medicinal plants used in traditional treatment of malaria in Ethiopia: a review of ethnomedicine, anti-malarial and toxicity studies |
| title_full | Medicinal plants used in traditional treatment of malaria in Ethiopia: a review of ethnomedicine, anti-malarial and toxicity studies |
| title_fullStr | Medicinal plants used in traditional treatment of malaria in Ethiopia: a review of ethnomedicine, anti-malarial and toxicity studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medicinal plants used in traditional treatment of malaria in Ethiopia: a review of ethnomedicine, anti-malarial and toxicity studies |
| title_short | Medicinal plants used in traditional treatment of malaria in Ethiopia: a review of ethnomedicine, anti-malarial and toxicity studies |
| title_sort | medicinal plants used in traditional treatment of malaria in ethiopia a review of ethnomedicine anti malarial and toxicity studies |
| topic | Antimalarial Ethnomedicine Medicinal plants Ethiopia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04264-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gashawnigussie medicinalplantsusedintraditionaltreatmentofmalariainethiopiaareviewofethnomedicineantimalarialandtoxicitystudies AT minychelwale medicinalplantsusedintraditionaltreatmentofmalariainethiopiaareviewofethnomedicineantimalarialandtoxicitystudies |