Table 3.
Plant-based traditional medicines used for treatment of diabetes in the Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania
| Nomenclature | Uses in other African communities | Active Compounds and Pharmacology | Plant Parts in Use | Potential Side Effects and Toxicities | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific | English Common Name(s) | Local Vernacular | ||||
| Moringa oleiferaa | Moringa; Drumstick tree | Mlonge | Senegal: stimulates breastmilk production, diabetes, anxiety, diarrhea and dysentery, colitis, gonorrhea, and various skin infections Chad: nutritional supplementation Nigeria and Benin: toothaches, GI ailments (dyspepsia, ulcers, and aiding digestion), poor vision, joint pains, diabetes, anemia, hypertension, paralysis, and helminthic infestation Uganda: diabetes, hypertension, HIV/AIDS-related symptoms, stimulates breastmilk production |
Leaf extracts have glucose metabolism effects: modulates gene-expression of gluconeogenic liver enzymes, and regenerates pancreatic beta cells Nitrile and mustard oil glycosides: lowers blood pressure Seed kernels: bronchodilatory properties CNS effects: increases glutamate and serotonin; decreases norepinephrine and dopamine; anti-pyretic properties Anti-oxidative properties: may prevent drug-induced nephrotoxicity, myocardial damage, and gastric mucosal irritation Active compounds: salicylic and ferulic acids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, glucosinolates and isothiocanates, tannins and saponins |
Flowers Pods/seeds Roots Leaves (Commonly grounded into powder for mixing) | -Abortifacient: causes uterine contractions -Inhibits CYP3A4 (inhibits metabolism of anti-diabetic drugs in the meglitinide class) -Chronic kidney disease (decline in glomerular filtration rate) -Hepatotoxicty (potential at high doses) -Paralysis |
| Cymbopogon Citrullusa |
Lemongrass | Mchaichai | Southern Africa: diabetes, oral thrush, anti-tussive, anti-emetic, antiseptic, arthritis West Africa (Cameroon & Nigeria): antipyretic/anti-malarial, stimulant, anti-spasmodic, jaundice Mauritius: common cold, pneumonia, fever, GI ailments and dyspepsia |
Oil extracts: anti-bacterial, anti-amebic, anti-fungal, antimalarial, anti-protozoal, and antifilarial effects Phenol and flavonoids: antioxidative Citral: insect repellent Active compounds: terpenes, alcohols, ketons, aldehyde, flavanoids, phenols, citral |
Leaves Stem Oil extract |
-Volume depletion -Diarrhea -Somnolence -Chronic kidney disease (decline in glomerular filtration rate) -Gastritis -Hepatotoxicty (potential) -Hypoglycemia |
| Hagenia abyssinicaa | African redwood; East African rosewood | Enjani engashe (Maasai) | Ethiopia: Helminthic infections, Typhoid fever, wound healing, epilepsy, sexually transmitted diseases, and symptomatic ailments (dyspepsia, diarrhea, common cold, and cough) | Essential oils: trypanocidal (anti-spasmodic) and cytotoxic (in vitro activity against leukemic and adenocarcinoma cell lines) Active compounds: kosin (a phloroglucinol), & quercetin glucuronides |
Flower and leaf extracts | -Hepatotoxicity -Diarrhea and volume depletion - Gastritis -Optic atrophy (blindness) -Abortifacient |
CNS central nervous system, CYP3A4 Cytochrome P450 3A4, GI gastrointestinal
aReferences are available in Additional file 2