Table 1.
Examples of medicinal plants with their potential adverse drug reactions.
| Medicinal plants | Traditional uses | Potential adverse effects | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pygeum africanum (Prunus africana) |
Prostate cancer, prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, other urinary tract infections, and aphrodisiac | Gastrointestinal upsets13 | Cameroon, South Africa, and Madagascar |
| Wild wisteria, violet tree (Securidaca longepedunculata) | Laxative, nervous system ailments (epilepsy), wounds, sores, coughs, venereal diseases, snakebites, bilharzias, headaches, fever related to malaria, erectile dysfunction or aphrodisiac, dysmenorrhea, and abortion induction | Acute kidney (cortical necrosis, acute interstitial nephritis), injury, diarrhea, dehydration, and collapse14 | Tanzania, Malawi, Soudan, Burkina Faso, Congo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe |
| Madagascar rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) | Cancer chemotherapy | Medullary aplasia, leucopoenia, incoordination of movements, convulsions, fatigue, mucositis, constipation, and neutropenia of short duration15 |
Madagascar |
| Round leaf Buchu (Agathosma betulina) | Diuretic and urinary tract antiseptic, arthritis, treatment of cellulite, cystitis, diarrhea, flatulence, kidney infections, nausea, rheumatism, and wounds | Gastrointestinal irritation, and centrilobular hepatic or hepatocellular necrosis16 | South Africa |
| Umckaloabo or South African Geranium (Pelargonium sidoides) | Coughs, upper respiratory tract irritations and infections (bronchitis, sinusitis, and pneumonia, tonsillitis, and rhinopharyngitis), gastrointestinal disorders, and pain |
Gastrointestinal complaints (nausea, heartburn, diarrhea), skin rashes, and allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions17 | South Africa |
|
Hoodia cactus (Hoodia gordonii) |
Appetite suppressant and anorectic action | Potentiation of diabetes mellitus (hyperglycemia), sometimes hypoglycemia and confusions18 | South Africa and Namibia |
| Red spinach (also known as Chinese spinach, Hon-toi-moi, Yin choy, Hsien tsai) or Spleen amaranth (Amaranthus dubius) | Diuresis [high blood pressure, kidney infections, obesity, and the edema associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or traumatic injuries] | Hypotension, skin irritations, to extensive organ and tissue damage with death induction19 | Africa (e.g., Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda), Asia, India, Europe, West Indies, North America, and South America |
| Bird flower (Crotalaria laburnifolia) | Dysmenorrhea and abortion induction20 | Acute kidney injury, hepatic veno-occlusive disease, pulmonary injury, and thrombocytopenia | Africa (e.g., Zimbabwe) and Asia (e.g., Sri Lanka) |
| Impila, ox-eye daisy (Callilepis laureola) | Impotence, evil spirits, and gastrointestinal complaints21 | Chronic renal disease, acute kidney injury, hyperkalemia, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, a disturbed level of consciousness, convulsions, and liver failure | North and South Africa, and Mediterranean Basin |
| Khat leaf (Catha edulis) | Central stimulant action (e.g., management of obesity and depression)22 | Chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury (acute tubular necrosis), hepatotoxicity, cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, cerebrovascular ischemia, dilated cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, and thromboembolism), diabetes, sexual dysfunction, duodenal ulcer, and hepatitis | East Africa, Yemen |
| Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) | Sore throat, cough, arthritis, and weight loss induction23 | Acute kidney injury (hypokalemic nephropathy), amenorrhea, pseudoaldosteronism, hypertension, heart failure, and rhabdomyolysis | Worldwide |