The 7 most famous medicinal plants from Africa's hidden treasure

 

Artemisia afra (African wormwood)

Artemisia afra is the only plant of its kind that is native to the African continent, and is considered a potential keystone plant due to its high popularity and versatility in African traditional medicine. African wormwood is used to treat coughs, colds, influenza and malaria.

Scientific evidence has spoken of its effectiveness as an antimicrobial, antidepressant, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, African wormwood gained the world's attention when it was promoted as a potential treatment for Covid-19 and tested in laboratory studies.

Its extracts had some inhibitory activity for feline coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 but a clinical study would be required to obtain reliable results.

Traditional uses and increasing popularity of African wormwood have led to the emergence of a number of commercial herbal products, but without sufficient clinical trials, we do not yet know if African wormwood will become a treasure trove for new medicines.

Pink catharanthus

Also known as bright-eyed, head-hugging, tomb plant, old maid, and rose hips, this plant is native to Madagascar. The plant is used as a tonic to treat many health conditions such as rheumatism, diabetes, and dermatological and venereal diseases.

Sterella rosea contains several phytochemicals associated with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. The plant also contains alkaloids. Two of its alkaloids were discovered by the pharmaceutical industry, vincristine and vinblastine. These two compounds were among the first anticancer agents extracted from plants and used. In clinical treatment.

Griffonia simplicifolia

The Griffonia plant is a woody climbing shrub, native to West and Central African countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo. In African traditional medicine, its seeds are famous for many medicinal effects and have been discovered as an aphrodisiac and a treatment for diarrhea, stomach pain and dysentery.

The chemical properties of the plant have been extensively studied and it has been found to contain rich phytochemicals of tremendous pharmacological value. In particular, its seeds are known to be an excellent source of “oxytriptan” (5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan), which the body uses to produce serotonin.

Sertonin is a neurotransmitter known to affect sleep, appetite, pain, and mood, and plays an important role in treating depression, insomnia, obesity, and other health conditions, especially those related to mental health.

Griffonia seeds are one of the most abundant and reliable sources, and commercial interest in them has increased in recent years. According to recent estimates, the market value of the seeds extracted annually from the plant is between $32 and $100 million, and the demand for them is expected to increase by 7% per year.

Celetium tortosum (Canna)

Canna is a succulent plant endemic to South Africa. It is widespread in semi-arid areas and is used for conditions related to stress, depression, pain and anxiety. The alkaloid mesembrine extract responsible for the pharmacological effects of Canna is a psychoactive and mood-regulating plant.

Zembrin was developed as a standardized extract of the plant and is used as a nutritional supplement to help improve mood, reduce stress, and improve cognition. The roots of this use go back to the traditions of the Khoikhoi and San of Africa.

There are other medical uses for these species, such as treating headaches, stomach aches, and respiratory diseases. Trimeximine (a commercial extract with a high concentration of mesembrine) acts as a monoaminergic neurotransmitter release by increasing the serotonin produced by the body, which is known for its role in regulating mood. It is also likely to be useful in Attention deficit conditions and other central nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer's.

 

 Strophantus Gratus

This plant is an evergreen climbing shrub that grows in tropical regions from Senegal to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In traditional medicine, this climbing oleander plant is used to treat snake bite, ulcers, gonorrhea, constipation and fever. The roots are believed to be an aphrodisiac.

One of the compounds of the plant is a cardiac glycoside that increases the excretory power of the heart. In particular, opin is the main glycoside important for the seeds.

Obin is now used in traditional medicine as a treatment for heart failure and arrhythmias, and recent studies have found a proven new use in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer.

 

 The Sidawi stork

This medicinal geranium is endemic to South Africa and the Lesotho highlands. It has tuberous roots that are harvested for medicinal purposes. People use these tubers to treat diarrhea, colic, gastritis, tuberculosis, cough, liver disorders, menstrual problems, gonorrhea, and other medical conditions.

Clinical evidence indicates the effectiveness of extracts of this species in the management of acute respiratory crises. These data support the use of medicinal geranium, especially in alleviating the symptoms of acute infections of the nasal cavity and sinuses and colds in adults.

Omcallopa, extracted from this plant, is one of the most successful medicinal plant products, and several clinical studies have shown its ability to reduce symptoms of acute bronchitis.

Other over-the-counter geranium medications, such as calabash and umeca, are sold all over the world. Linktagon, extracted from a type of geranium, is also prescribed to help the body fight off colds and flu by stimulating the immune system.
 

 

Siphonochilus aethiopex (African ginger)

African ginger is native to tropical western and southern Africa, where it is found in 30 African countries. Its widespread use is due to its use in a variety of medical conditions, including respiratory problems (such as cough and flu), pain, infections, and malaria.

Analysis of the essential oil of the roots and rhizome of African ginger found about 70 compounds in the roots and 60 in the rhizome. The active eucalyptol and siphonoquinone compounds present in the roots and rhizome showed potential for treating asthma and allergic reactions. In a clinical trial, eucalyptol showed anti-inflammatory activity in bronchial asthma.

In South Africa, this species is classified as Vulnerable due to being over-harvested for traditional medicine. It is fast heading towards extinction in the wild in South Africa, so its cultivation is strongly encouraged to conserve it.