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The phytotherapeutic potential of commercial South African medicinal plants: current knowledge and future prospects

  • Taskeen F. Docrat , Naeem Sheik Abdul and Jeanine L. Marnewick EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: October 5, 2022
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Physical Sciences Reviews
From the journal Physical Sciences Reviews Volume 9 Issue 1

Abstract

South Africa, a country considered affluent in nature, ranks third in global biodiversity and encompasses approximately 9% of higher plants on planet Earth. Many indigenous plants have been utilised as herbal medicine, proving successful in treating numerous ailments. From the common cold to pandemic maladies such as COVID-19 in the 21st century and the treatment of incurable diseases, South African inhabitants have found great promise in the healing properties of these plants. Phytomedicine is a rapidly evolving topic, with in-depth bioactive composition analysis, identifying therapeutic action mechanisms, and disease prevention. While we are now poised to take advantage of nature’s medicine cabinet with greater scientific vigour, it remains critical that these practises are done with caution. Overharvesting significantly impacts biodiversity and cultivation practices amidst the beautiful nature of these nutraceuticals. This book chapter focuses on the therapeutic potential of commonly used South African medicinal plants, their ethnopharmacological properties, and how we can conserve this treasure cove we call home for future generations.

Keywords: bioactives; medicinal plants; South Africa; sustainability
Corresponding author: Jeanine L. Marnewick, Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa, E-mail:

Funding source: Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Award Identifier / Grant number: Postdoctoral fellowship

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: This study was funded by Cape Peninsula University of Technology (Postdoctoral fellowship).

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

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Received: 2022-06-01
Accepted: 2022-08-27
Published Online: 2022-10-05

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. Effect of sugarcane bagasse on thermal and mechanical properties of thermoplastic cassava starch/beeswax composites
  4. Investigation on impact properties of different type of fibre form: hybrid hemp/glass and kenaf/glass composites
  5. Material selection and conceptual design in natural fibre composites
  6. Fundamental study of commercial polylactic acid and coconut fiber/polylactic acid filaments for 3D printing
  7. Amine compounds post-treatment on formaldehyde emission and properties of urea formaldehyde bonded particleboard
  8. Properties of plybamboo manufactured from two Malaysian bamboo species—
  9. Mechanical performance and failure characteristics of cross laminated timber (CLT) manufactured from tropical hardwoods species
  10. Effect of stacking sequence on tensile properties of glass, hemp and kenaf hybrid composites
  11. Flexural analysis of hemp, kenaf and glass fibre-reinforced polyester resin
  12. Manufacturing defects of woven natural fibre thermoset composites
  13. Fumaric acid: fermentative production, applications and future perspectives
  14. Modeling, simulation and mixing time calculation of stirred tank for nanofluids using partially-averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) k u  − ϵ u turbulence model
  15. Malic acid: fermentative production and applications
  16. Biotic farming using organic fertilizer for sustainable agriculture
  17. An overview about the approaches used in the production of alpha-ketoglutaric acid with their applications
  18. Conscientiousness of environmental concepts in sustainable development and ecological conservation
  19. Biochar: its characteristics application and utilization of on environment
  20. Biofuel as an alternative energy source for environmental sustainability
  21. Evaluation of the crystal structures of metal(II) 2-fluorobenzoate complexes
  22. Role of science in environmental conservation leading to sustainable development
  23. The phytotherapeutic potential of commercial South African medicinal plants: current knowledge and future prospects
  24. Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in East African water resources: progress, challenges, and future
  25. Embedding systems thinking in tertiary chemistry for sustainability
  26. Clean technology for sustainable development by geopolymer materials
  27. Role of semiconductor photo catalysts on mask pollution management
  28. An overview of mechanical and corrosion properties of aluminium matrix composites reinforced with plant based natural fibres
  29. Physical and mechanical properties of Acacia mangium plywood after sanding treatment
  30. Simple naturally occurring β-carboline alkaloids – role in sustainable theranostics
  31. A SWOT analysis of artificial intelligence in diagnostic imaging in the developing world: making a case for a paradigm shift
  32. Health in poultry- immunity and microbiome with regard to a concept of one health
https://doi.org/10.1515/psr-2022-0136
Keywords for this article
bioactives; medicinal plants; South Africa; sustainability

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. Effect of sugarcane bagasse on thermal and mechanical properties of thermoplastic cassava starch/beeswax composites
  4. Investigation on impact properties of different type of fibre form: hybrid hemp/glass and kenaf/glass composites
  5. Material selection and conceptual design in natural fibre composites
  6. Fundamental study of commercial polylactic acid and coconut fiber/polylactic acid filaments for 3D printing
  7. Amine compounds post-treatment on formaldehyde emission and properties of urea formaldehyde bonded particleboard
  8. Properties of plybamboo manufactured from two Malaysian bamboo species—
  9. Mechanical performance and failure characteristics of cross laminated timber (CLT) manufactured from tropical hardwoods species
  10. Effect of stacking sequence on tensile properties of glass, hemp and kenaf hybrid composites
  11. Flexural analysis of hemp, kenaf and glass fibre-reinforced polyester resin
  12. Manufacturing defects of woven natural fibre thermoset composites
  13. Fumaric acid: fermentative production, applications and future perspectives
  14. Modeling, simulation and mixing time calculation of stirred tank for nanofluids using partially-averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) k u  − ϵ u turbulence model
  15. Malic acid: fermentative production and applications
  16. Biotic farming using organic fertilizer for sustainable agriculture
  17. An overview about the approaches used in the production of alpha-ketoglutaric acid with their applications
  18. Conscientiousness of environmental concepts in sustainable development and ecological conservation
  19. Biochar: its characteristics application and utilization of on environment
  20. Biofuel as an alternative energy source for environmental sustainability
  21. Evaluation of the crystal structures of metal(II) 2-fluorobenzoate complexes
  22. Role of science in environmental conservation leading to sustainable development
  23. The phytotherapeutic potential of commercial South African medicinal plants: current knowledge and future prospects
  24. Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in East African water resources: progress, challenges, and future
  25. Embedding systems thinking in tertiary chemistry for sustainability
  26. Clean technology for sustainable development by geopolymer materials
  27. Role of semiconductor photo catalysts on mask pollution management
  28. An overview of mechanical and corrosion properties of aluminium matrix composites reinforced with plant based natural fibres
  29. Physical and mechanical properties of Acacia mangium plywood after sanding treatment
  30. Simple naturally occurring β-carboline alkaloids – role in sustainable theranostics
  31. A SWOT analysis of artificial intelligence in diagnostic imaging in the developing world: making a case for a paradigm shift
  32. Health in poultry- immunity and microbiome with regard to a concept of one health
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