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