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Table 3 Plant-based traditional medicines used for treatment of diabetes in the Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

From: Traditional medicine practices among community members with diabetes mellitus in Northern Tanzania: an ethnomedical survey

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

  1. CNS central nervous system, CYP3A4 Cytochrome P450 3A4, GI gastrointestinal
  2. aReferences are available in Additional file 2