Underexplored Medicinal Plants from Sub-Saharan Africa: Plants with Therapeutic Potential for Human Health

Underexplored Medicinal Plants from Sub-Saharan Africa: Plants with Therapeutic Potential for Human Health examines a comprehensive selection of rarely explored plants that have been underestimated for their therapeutic value. The book contains monographs of medicinal plants, outlining their botanical description, geographical distribution, ethnobotanical usage, chemical constituents, sample and standard preparations and methods, and pharmacological properties. With expert contributors from South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Cameroon and Nigeria, and the compilation of ethnobotanical, taxonomic and pharmacologic information for each species, this book is a valuable resource for researchers, academics in pharmacology, ethnopharmacology, medicinal plant sciences, and more.

• Explores the therapeutic potential of a comprehensive selection of underexplored and underutilized medicinal plants in sub-Sahara Africa
• Provides a summary table of structures of any known natural products, including details of plant source (chapter) and observed activity (e.g. anticancer, antibacterial)
• Includes contributions from experts from South African, Mauritius, Seychelles, Cameroon and Nigeria

• Language: English
• Publisher: Academic Press
• Release date: Nov 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9780128168219

Book preview

Underexplored Medicinal Plants from Sub-Saharan Africa

Plants with Therapeutic Potential for Human Health

Namrita Lall

Table of Contents

Cover image

Title page

Copyright

Disclaimer

Contributors

About the editor

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1. Acalypha integrifolia Willd

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extracts

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 2. Aloe lomatophylloides

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 3. Aloe macra

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 4. Aloe purpurea

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 5. Aloe spicata

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 6. Aloe tormentorii

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 7. Bauhinia galpinii

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 8. Bruguiera gymnorhiza

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 9. Buddleja saligna

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 10. Combretum molle

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 11. Commelina benghalensis

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 12. Elaeodendron transvaalense

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 13. Equisetum ramosissimum

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 14. Eriosema kraussianum

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional informtion

Chapter 15. Erythrophleum lasianthum

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 16. Euclea natalensis

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 17. Eugenia crassipetala

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 18. Eugenia tinifolia

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 19. Ficus glumosa

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 20. Ficus lutea

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 21. Ficus sur

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 22. Greyia radlkoferi

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 23. Haemanthus albiflos

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 24. Heteropyxis canescens

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Biological activities

8. Additional information

Chapter 25. Heteropyxis dehniae

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Biological activities

8. Additional information

Chapter 26. Hypericum revolutum subsp. revolutum

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 27. Juncus effusus

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 28. Lannea schweinfurthii

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 29. Lippia scaberrima

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 30. Newtonia buchananii

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 31. Nymphaea caerulea

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 32. Ocimum labiatum

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 33. Phyllanthus phillyreifolius

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 34. Plantago longissima

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional Information

Chapter 35. Plectranthus ecklonii

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 36. Plectranthus neochilus

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 37. Rapanea melanophloeos

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 38. Ravenala madagascariensis

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 39. Searsia lancea

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 40. Siphonochilus aethiopicus

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 41. Stillingia lineata subsp. lineata

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 42. Terminalia bentzoe subsp. bentzoe

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 43. Terminalia prunioides

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 44. Vigna unguiculata

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 45. Wikstroemia indica

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Chapter 46. Zantedeschia aethiopica

1. General description

2. Botanical description

3. Distribution

4. Ethnobotanical usage

5. Phytochemical constituents

6. TLC fingerprinting of plant extract

7. Pharmacological properties

8. Additional information

Index

Copyright

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Notices

Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treatment may become necessary.

Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.

To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or editors, assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein.

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ISBN: 978-0-12-816814-1

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Disclaimer

This book provides a summary of different medicinal plants, their ethnobotanical usage, and scientific validation of usage. The information presented in its current form has been culled from scientific journals, book chapters, and online resources. The chapters have been peer reviewed by specialists in the field of medicinal plant sciences, phytomedicine, and ethnopharmacology. This book makes no claim with regard to the pharmacology and possible toxicity of the plants, and care should be taken when considering the plants' application. Many of you have already experienced herbal medicines and/or plant-derived compounds' positive effect on your health. We hope that through the content of this book, you gain tools to take an even greater role in your well-being. The information provided in this book is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. If you have any specific questions about any medicinal matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. The authors take no responsibility for any wrongful or misuse of any plant mentioned in this book.

Contributors

Theeshan Bahorun,     ANDI Centre of Excellence for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Republic of Mauritius

Cláudia Baider,     The Mauritius Herbarium, Agricultural Services, Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Réduit, Republic of Mauritius

Analike Blom van Staden,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Dikonketso Bodiba,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Rachel Brunchault,     Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Avinash Budloo,     Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Sipho H. Chauke,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Paul Chazot,     Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom

Marco Nuno De Canha,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Joseph O. Erhabor

Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Phytomedicine Unit, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

Bianca Fibrich,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Matthew Fisher,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Melanie J.R. Howes,     Natural Capital and Plant Health Department, Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom

Rajesh Jeewon,     Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Beebee Noushreen Kissoon,     Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Riana Kleynhans,     Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Anna-Mari Kok,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Quenton Kritzinger,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Namrita Lall,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Isa A. Lambrechts,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Christophe Lavergne,     Conservatoire Botanique National de Mascarin, La Reunion, France

Fatimah Lawal,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Devina Lobine,     Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Balungile Madikizela

Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Murunwa Madzinga,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Mohamad Fawzi Mahomoodally,     Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Ivy Masefako Makena,     Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Babalwa Matsiliza-Mlathi,     Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Lyndy Joy McGaw,     Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Katlego Ellena Motlhatlego,     Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Nadeem Nazurally,     Department of Agricultural and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Vidushi S. Neergheen-Bhujun

ANDI Centre of Excellence for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Republic of Mauritius

Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Republic of Mauritius

Carel B. Oosthuizen,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Sameerchand Pudaruth,     Department of ICT, Faculty of Information, Communication and Digital Technologies

Kersley Pynee,     The Mauritius Herbarium, Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security, Mauritius

Sunelle Rademan,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Srutee Ramprosand,     Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Nawraj Rummun

ANDI Centre of Excellence for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Republic of Mauritius

Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Republic of Mauritius

Nabeelah Sadeer,     Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Mala Ranghoo Sanmukhiya,     Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Jean-Claude Sevastian,     Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Joyce Govinden Soulange,     Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Shanoo Suroowan,     Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Karina Szuman,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Thilivhali E. Tshikalange,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Danielle Twilley,     Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

About the editor

Professor Namrita Lall is truly passionate about evaluating the wonders of medicinal plants and not only concludes her findings on collating information on ethnobotanical usage but takes it beyond proving their efficacy and eventually resulting in valuable pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical products. Professor Lall is a distinguished scientist in Medicinal Plant Science at the University of Pretoria. She has been placed in the Essential Science Indicators list of the top 1% of publication outputs (citations) in the discipline pharmacology and toxicology. She has international recognition for her research into the potential of medicinal plants for pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical purposes. She has made a significant contribution to the field of Medicinal Plant Science. Several medicinal plants with valuable biological activities have been discovered which led to several national and international patents. She has coauthored about 135 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and 24 book chapters. The book by Professor Lall, entitled Medicinal Plants for Holistic Health and Well-being, was published by Elsevier in 2018.

Among several awards received in recognition for her work, a few are The Order of Mapungubwe, South Africa's highest honor from the Honorable South African President Jacob Zuma (April 2014), Distinguished Young Women in Science Award by Naledi Pandor, Honorable Minister of the Science and Technology of South Africa (August 2011), prestigious United Kingdom Royal Society/National Research Foundation Award, South Africa (2005), National Research Foundation/Center National de La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Award (2004–05), University's "Young Exceptional Performers award (2002), S2A3-Gencor bronze medal by South African Association for the Advancement of Science (April 1997), Council Award of a Gold medal for BSc Honors (April 1994), Outstanding achievement award for PhD (March 2002), and UNESCO-L’Oreal Award for Women in Science (March 2002).

Professor Lall has presented numerous keynotes and plenary talks at international conferences. She has demonstrated commitment to community development by interacting positively with traditional health practitioners and engaging them in advancing traditional medicines toward conventional pharmaceutical products.

Readership

Professors, academics, graduate students, and amateur botanists in the areas of medicinal plant science, pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, phytomedicine, and herbal science courses, as well as the drug discovery and development scientists engaged in natural product research in the pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industries.

Foreword

Who will doubt that medicinal plants are essential and an important resource for the future? Well, in fact, many do doubt it. Globally there is a drive to improve health care, to achieve the Global Development Goals. While these have been widely accepted as global public policy goals, there often has been a lack of recognition of the importance of medicinal plants and local/traditional medicines in this context. After considerable discussions, traditional medicine is now included in the Declaration of Astana (2018), which in assessing the future success of global primary health care (PHC) states: We will apply knowledge, including scientific as well as traditional knowledge, to strengthen PHC, improve health outcomes and ensure access for all people to the right care at the right time and at the most appropriate level of care, respecting their rights, needs, dignity and autonomy. Traditional medicine is mentioned only twice, but it is included.

In this context, the book edited by Prof Namrita Lall Underexplored Medicinal Plants from Sub-Saharan Africa comes in as an exciting addition to our scientific and therapeutic resources. It provides an overview of such traditional uses (which is important in itself) and also includes an evaluation of the bioscientific data available on selected medicinal plants in Sub-Saharan Africa. It follows in the traditions of monographs, which are written to provide an evidence-base for their (medical) use. Prof. Lall is a distinguished scientist in medicinal plant sciences and has published extensively on the topic of ethnopharmacology and phytomedicines. Her contribution has been recognized through various awards, including the Order of Mapungubwe, the highest civilian honor granted by the president of South Africa for an individual's achievements internationally.

Southern Africa is a region with a unique biocultural diversity including the exceptional Cape Flora (Flora Capensis) and Africa's rich tropical flora. The entire continent is undergoing a fast and dramatic change, so summarizing and analyzing such data firstly offers an essential basis to document this richness and to ascertain that the regions of origin of these plants are fully known and recognized, and at the same time it may offer ideas for a sustainable and equitable use. Prof. Lall's effort can provide a knowledge-base, which will feed into future uses as a part of ecosystem services benefiting local people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Compiling and assessing such data is a major undertaking, and in this volume, about 46 underestimated and understudied medicinal plants from Sub-Saharan Africa are included. With the numerous species present in this region, this is a tiny share, but also a very important one. Each monograph is carefully compiled covering all the ethnopharmacological aspects and very well referenced. They offer a concise and at the same time comprehensive overview of these medicinal plants. I found them fascinating to read, and the book will certainly be of interest to researchers and practitioners with an interest in medicinal plants and ethnopharmacology, but also the informed amateurs, i.e., the many people interested in medicinal plants.

So, for those of you who have doubts about herbal medicines, or who simply want to learn more about these fascinating plants, this book is an ideal starting point to learn about selected medicinal plants and their scientific study. And the same can be said for those who have worked in the field of ethnopharmacology and medicinal plant research. I really loved browsing through these great monographs.

Declaration of Astana (2018) World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 2018. (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO licence).

Michael Heinrich

Research Group ‘Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy’

UCL School of Pharmacy, Univ. London

29 – 39 Brunswick Sq., London WC1N 1AX

Co-Chair of the UCL Research Ethics Committee ( [e-mail] )

https://ethics.grad.ucl.ac.uk/index.php .

Tel.: [phone]/Email:  [e-mail] .

https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=jWHm_7oAAAAJ&hl=en .

https://iris.ucl.ac.uk/iris/browse/profile?upi=MHEIN39 .

Introduction

Throughout history, humankind has relied on plants for their survival. Not only does it serve as a primary food source and as building material and weapons due to its structural properties but also as a source of medicine. All cultures have their own indigenous knowledge systems that are transferred from generation to generation. Although for some cultures this knowledge has been well documented in scripts, books, databases, and online, for others this is not always the case.

Medicinal plants from Africa boast a wide variety of biological properties, which need to be discovered, documented, and explored. While other countries have extensive pharmacopoeias to use as a guideline when it comes to medicinal plants, Africa has only but a number of books which contain basic information. There have been some strides recently with the publishing of the African Herbal Pharmacopoeia, a truly valuable resource. While a second edition is in the pipeline, it focusses on the most prominent and well known and well-used medicinal plants from different countries in Africa.

There is an extreme abundance of potential drug candidates that can be discovered in the lesser known understudied medicinal plants from sub-Saharan Africa. This book attempts to showcase some of these understudied and underestimated medicinal plants. It combines the general description with traditional usage and phytochemistry. Additionally, an effort has been made to incorporate the scientific evaluation of these plants, not only to show what has been done but, more importantly, what still needs to be done.

This book presents up-to-date information on a total of 46 native and nonnative medicinal plants growing in sub-Saharan Africa. Comprehensive and useful information from published literature, including plant descriptions and origin, traditional medicinal uses, phytoconstituents, pharmacological activities, toxicity, and reported drug–herb interactions, is presented in an easy-to-read manner for easy and quick reference. There is no minimum level of knowledge required to read this book, and scientific and medical glossaries are also provided for the reader's convenience.

This book will be of great practical benefit to a wide-ranging audience. Educators and students in complementary medicine and health, pharmacognosy, medicinal chemistry, natural products, pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacovigilance, medicine, pharmacy, botany, biology, chemistry, and life sciences will find the information useful. This book is not only for scientists and advanced botanists but for any person interested in learning more about what this wonderful part of the world can offer with regard to medicinal plants, pharmacognosy, ethnopharmacology, and botany.

Prof Namrita Lall

Editor

Dr Carel B. Oosthuizen

Editorial Assistant and Project Manager

Chapter 1

Acalypha integrifolia Willd

Nawraj Rummun ¹ , ² , Cláudia Baider ³ , Theeshan Bahorun ¹ , and Vidushi S. Neergheen-Bhujun ¹ , ²       ¹ ANDI Centre of Excellence for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Republic of Mauritius      ² Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Republic of Mauritius      ³ The Mauritius Herbarium, Agricultural Services, Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Réduit, Republic of Mauritius

Abstract

Acalypha integrifolia Willd (Euphorbiaceae) is a monoecious shrub. The species is endemic to the Mascarenes, and this subspecies is endemic to the Mascarenes islands of Réunion and Mauritius. The leaves are used as part of alternative medicine on both islands. Herbalists recommend a decoction of the leaf for their anthelmintic and depurative properties but also for various dermatological pathologies. However, although the leaf