Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used for Management of Cancer in Karonga District, Northern Malawi

Abstract

Background: In Malawi, cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. This has led to increased use of herbal medicines for cancer management. Objective: This study aimed at identifying medicinal plants that are used for the management of cancer in the southern area of Karonga district, Northern Malawi. Methods: Semi-structured individual questionnaire interviews were used to collect ethnobotanical data from traditional herbal practitioners in the study area. Results: A total of twenty-six (26) plant species from seventeen (17) botanical families were reported by Traditional Herbal Practitioners to be effective in the management of cancer. The botanical families with the representation of more than one plant species were Fabaceae with five species, followed by Combretaceae and Anacardiaceae with tree species each and Meliaceaewith two species. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) showed that Senna singueana (RFC = 0.833), Lannea discolour (RFC = 0.833), Melia azedarach (RFC = 0.667), and Moringa oleifera (RFC = 0.667) were the medicinal plant species that were frequently mentioned and used in the study. The recipes could be a mixture of plant species or plant parts such as the leaves, barks, roots, rhizomes, seeds, flowers, and fruits. Conclusion: The study showed that a potential cancer management drug could be developed from the medicinal plant species found in the area. The results of this study could provide baseline information on medicinal plant species for further phytochemical studies and other studies to validate their use.

Dual Role of Alchemilla vulgaris L. Extract in Breast Cancer Regression: Reestablishment of Effective Immune Response

“…Breast cancer, being one of the foremost prevalent cancer types affecting women, is also the subject of research in the world of ethnobotanical medicine. Ethnobotanical data can provide valuable insights and serve as a starting point for further scientific research and the discovery of novel compounds that may have therapeutic potential and/or improve current protocols, mainly through the sensitization of tumor cells to radio- or chemotherapy, or refreshment of immune cell activities against the malignant phenotype [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Importantly, several plants are traditionally used in various cultures to treat breast cancer symptoms and improve overall well-being [ 18 , 29 , 32 , 33 ].…”

GC–MS analysis, molecular docking, and pharmacokinetic studies of Multidentia crassa extracts’ compounds for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in dentistry

“…Several medicinal plants have been widely used for many diseases in Malawi 16 , 17 . However, their effectiveness and possible clinical applications have had little or no scientific study.…”