Therapeutice Use of Plant Species for Inflammation-related Conditions in Limpopo Province of South Africa: A Mini Review and Current Perspectives

Document Abstract / Summary Overview

Impaired inflammatory response could result in undesirable effects as seen in chronic diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) and cancer. This study was based on an ethno-botanical survey of 6literature citations of medicinal plants used to treat inflammation-related conditions in Limpopo province of South Africa. Plant species belonging to the Fabaceae family are mostly used for these purposes, representing 16.1% of the recorded plants species. The root was the preferred plant part (50.9%) used for inflammation-related conditions, followed by the leaves (18.4%), stem bark (16.7%), whole plant (9.6%), the bulbs (3.5%) and the seed (0.9%) consecutively. The same plant species or a different part thereof is sometimes used to treat inflammation caused by different ailments. Traditional medicine continues to play a vital role in meeting the health care needs of people in under-resourced areas such as the Limpopo province. However, a curious finding in this review is the dearth of information on the traditional uses and exploitability of Harpagophytum procumbens. Extracts from H. procumbens are well known for their anti-inflammatory activities. Controlled harvesting of H. procumbens could potentially provide the much needed income for the people in the areas of the Limpopo province where this plant species is available.