Ethiopian Medicinal Plants Used for Respiratory Tract Disorders: Ethnomedicinal Review

Abstract

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) refer to infections in any part of the respiratory tract, which are common, with most of the world’s population contracting at least one infection annually. These infections are becoming important causes of death and morbidity due to the rapid development of antimicrobial resistance that has resulted in reduced efficacy of existing drugs. Different local societies residing in Ethiopia have been reported to use traditional medicinal plants to treat RTIs. Nevertheless, up-to-date summarized data on the diversity of plants used in the traditional medicine system to treat RTIs in Ethiopia are lacking. The purpose of this review was to assess plant species used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory tract infections in Ethiopia. It attempts to compile available data required for undertaking further scientific investigations. The data were collected by searching for published scientific articles and other grey literature. Following this, medicinal plant (MP) diversity, growth forms, plant parts used, modes of remedy preparation and application, sources and distributions, and frequently treated respiratory disorders were examined. An Excel spreadsheet and SigmaPlot software were used to summarize and present the data. Two hundred twenty-nine (229) plant species that have been used to treat respiratory disorders in Ethiopia were documented. Lamiaceae was the most cited family (27 species), followed by Asteraceae (23 species), and Fabaceae (18 species), whereas cough was primarily cited as being treated by MPs and scored the highest frequency of citation (FOC = 243), followed by the common cold (FOC = 151) and asthma (FOC = 63). The top-cited plant species used in the treatment of RTIs were Eucalyptus globulus (6.8%), Allium sativum (5.5%), Zingiber officinale (4.2%), Ruta chalepensis (3.8%), and Ocimum lamiifolium (2.8%). Herbs were the dominant plant growth form (46%) used to treat respiratory diseases, and the most commonly used MP parts were leaves (37%). The leading traditional method used for preparation was decoction (25.5%), and the remedies were usually administered orally (64.6%). The MP origin reported was mainly from the wild (59%). High diversity of medicinal plants was reported as being used to treat various RTIs in Ethiopia. Information obtained from this review could be used as a reference for the selection of plants for further pharmacological, phytochemical, and toxicological investigations for their possible therapeutic applications and the development of new plant-based drugs.

Medicinal Plants Used by Oromo Community in Kofale District, West-Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

“… Myrtaceae Bergamo diima Sh Ba Febrile illness Hu Fresh part is crushed and squeezed Topical 8 GN-169 Bacterial infection 93 Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Myrtaceae Bargamo adii T L Stomachache Hu Crushed & chewed Oral GN-162 Stomachache, 94 influenza, 95 bacterial infection, 96 respiratory tract infections, 97 malaria 57 Euclea schimperi (A.DC) Dandy Ebenaceae Mi’eesa T RB Hemorrhoids Hu Its root bark and seeds of Solanum anguivi are dried, ground and mixed with butter Dried, pounded and mixed with butter Topical 15 GN-87 Wound, teeth infections, eye disorders, head ache, pain, spasm 98 Dermatophilosis Hu Fresh leaf is crushed and mixed with water Topical 131 L Stomach ache Hu Oral 50 Euphorbia schimperiana Scheele Euphorbiaceae Guurii H Sp St Gon...…”

Phenolic, Flavonoid Contents, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Activity of Selected Eucalyptus Species

“…globulus is used to treat respiratory tract infections; any illness in the respiratory tract that may affect the lungs, bronchi, or nasal passages is referred to as a respiratory tract infection. Because of antimicrobial resistance is developing quickly and reducing the effectiveness of currently available drugs, these illnesses are becoming major sources of death and morbidity [21].…”

Antioxidant Potential of Ethiopian Medicinal Plants and Their Phytochemicals: A Review of Pharmacological Evaluation

“…This high adoption rate can be largely ascribed to the fact that it draws on locally accessible wild plant resources [ 13 , 14 ]. This is in part because the vast majority of rural residents cannot access modern medical services because of their high cost, lack of transportation, and scarcity of healthcare centers [ 15 ]. However, the limited number of medicinal plants has been the focus of the available reviews on the antioxidant potential of Ethiopian natural products [ 16 ].…”