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Table 4 Plant-based traditional medicines relevant for the treatment and management of diabetes in 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 used

Potential Side Effects and Toxicities

Scientific

Common Name(s)

Local Vernacular

    

Aloe vera (ferox and secundiflora species)a

Cape aloes, Aloe Vera

Aloe, Alovera

Southern Africa: arthritis, burns/skin conditions, hypertension, purging/laxative, dyspepsia, anti-inflammatory, cosmetics, eye ailments/conjunctivitis, sexually transmitted diseases, infertility, impotence

East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania): malaria, purging/laxative for cleansing purposes, dyspepsia, skin ulcerations/wound healing including burns, HIV/AIDS, cosmetic, infertility, anti-parasitic

Gel: Prostaglandin- and bradykinase-mediated anti-inflammatory activity.

Aloin leaf extracts: increases GI motility and induces emesis

Active compounds: glucomannans, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, bradykinase, anthraquinone glycosides (aloin, barbaloin)

Gel extract

Leaves

Rind

Stem

-Volume depletion and electrolyte imbalance

-Hypoglycemia

Hyperpigmentation and photosensitivity

-Hepatotoxicity

-Acute tubular necrosis

-Acute interstitial nephritis

Clausena anisataa

Horsewood

Mjafari

West Africa: bacterial and fungal infections of the skin including boils, ringworm, and eczema

East Africa (Tanzania): oral candidiasis, fungal infections of the skin, and epilepsy

Southern Africa: epilepsy, arthritis, rheumatism and other inflammatory conditions, hypertension, heart failure and other heart ailments, schistosomiasis, taeniasis and other parasitic infections, constipation and dyspepsia; malaria and other febrile conditions, headaches, eye ailments/conjunctivitis, impotence and infertility

Leaf extracts inhibit ACE: may lower blood pressure

Bacteriostatic against gram positive and gram negative bacteria; Fungicidal activity against Aspergilus fumigatus

Antiplasmodial: in-vitro dose-dependent schizonticidal effect of leaf extracts on parasitemia

In vitro activity against leukemic cell lines

Anti-HIV1/2 effects: dose-dependent inhibition of reverse transcriptase and taq polymerase enzymes

Hypoglycemic properties (reduction in basal blood glucose levels); Anti-convulsant; ACE inhibition; Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (weak) inhibition

Active compounds:

Clausamine, carbazole alkaloids (girinimbine, murrayamine-A, and ekeberginine), flavonoids, monoterpenes, and coumarins

Leaf, stem, and root extracts

-Heavy metal bio-accumulation (Iron, cadmium, manganese)

-Hypoglycemia

-Gastritis

Cajanus cajana

Pigeon pea

Majani ya mbaazi

Ghana: diabetes, dysentery, hepatitis, measles, dysmenorrhea

Nigeria: wound healing, aphthae, bedsores, and malaria/fever

Antibacterial activity; hypocholesterolemic effects (diet-induced); inhibits CNS voltage-gated Na channels; induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells via a ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway; inhibits TNF-α and IL-1β production

Glycemic profile: leaves induce hyperglycemia, seeds induce hypoglycemia

Active compounds:

Cajanuslactone, stilbene, pinostrobin, cajanol

Leaves Seeds

-CNS depression

-Somnolence

-Heavy metal bio-accumulation (arsenic, copper, aluminum)

-Bronchospasm

-Hypoglycemia

Persea Americanaa

Avocado

Mparachichi, Mwembe, Mafuta

West Africa (Nigeria, Togo, Ivory Coast): anti-diarrheal, diabetes/hyperglycemia, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antiepileptic, exhaustion, hypertension, gastritis/dyspepsia

East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique): dengue vector control, diarrhea, sore throat, menstrual regulation, hair growth, epilepsy, toothaches, wound healing, tuberculosis, neuralgia)

Anti-inflammatory, limiting lowering (β-Carotene and fatty acids), anticonvulsive (via gabanergic effects) & vasodilatory properties; Inhibits alpha-amylase and enhance glycogenesis; acetogenins inhibit platelet

aggregation; larvicidal to Aedes aegypti

Active Compounds:

Tannins, saporins, alkanols (aliphatic acetogenins), terpenoids, coumarin

Leaves

Fruits

Seeds

Rind

Bark

-Increased risk of bleeding when

combined with other anti-coagulants

-Hypoglycemia

-Hyperkalemia (especially among those with impaired kidney function)

Artemisia afraa

African wormwood

Fivi, Majani mapana artemisia

Southern Africa: coughs, colds, sore throat, gastritis/reflux, hemorrhoids, fevers, malaria, asthma, diabetes

Lowers blood glucose, improves glucose tolerance and balance in lipid metabolism; anti-oxidative properties

bactericidal against gram positive and gram negative bacteria

Roots stems leaves

- Chronic kidney disease (decline in glomerular filtration rate)

-Acute tubular necrosis

-Hypoglycemia

  1. GI gastro-intestinal, ACE angiotensin converting enzyme, TNF tumor necrosis factor, IL interleukin, CNS central nervous system, ROS reactive oxygen species
  2. aReferences are available in Additional file 2