An ethnobotanical survey of plants used to manage HIV/AIDS opportunistic infections in Katima Mulilo, Caprivi region, Namibia

Abstract

Katima Mulilo has the highest burden of HIV/AIDS in Namibia. Due to several constraints of the antiretroviral therapy programme, HIV-infected persons still use ethnomedicines to manage AIDS-related opportunistic infections. Despite the reliance on plants to manage HIV/AIDS in Katima Mulilo, there have been no empirical studies to document the specific plant species used by traditional healers to treat AIDS-related opportunistic infections. In this study, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted to record the various plant families, species, and plant parts used to manage different HIV/AIDS-related opportunistic infections in Katima Mulilo, Caprivi region, Namibia. The results showed that a total of 71 plant species from 28 families, mostly the Combretaceae (14%), Anacardiaceae (8%), Mimosaceae (8%), and Ebanaceae (7%), were used to treat conditions such as herpes zoster, diarrhoea, coughing, malaria, meningitis, and tuberculosis. The most plant parts used were leaves (33%), bark (32%), and roots (28%) while the least used plant parts were fruits/seeds (4%). Further research is needed to isolate the plants' active chemical compounds and understand their modes of action.

Alternative Medicines for HIV/AIDS in Resource-Poor Settings: Insight from Traditional Medicines Use in Sub- Saharan Africa

“…Ethnobotanical studies conducted in the following sub-Saharan African countries indicated that traditional healers and local communities extensively use medicinal plants to manage the effects of HIV/AIDS in Cameroon [2], Namibia [3,4], Rwanda [5], South Africa [6][7][8], Sudan [9], Tanzania [1,10] and Uganda [11][12][13].…”

Securidaca longipedunculata Fresen (Polygalaceae): A review of its ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties and toxicology

“…The decoction of the whole plant may either be drunk or used to wash the mouth and treat infections which include oral candidiasis, excessive coughing and other opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS (Chinsembu and Hedimbi, 2010).…”

Inhibition of HIV-1 enzymes, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Plectranthus barbatus

“…The aerial parts of this plant are administered orally by traditional medicine practitioners as a decoction or an infusion to treat HIV/AIDS, oral candidiasis, herpes simplex, hepes zoster and skin rashes (Chinsembu and Hedimbi, 2010;Kisangau et al, 2011Kisangau et al, , 2007Lamorde et al, 2010). Exactly what the mechanism of action of the extract is, or why patients experience alleviation of symptoms (during or after its use) is unknown.…”