Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Utilization of Pteridophytes as Herbal Medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World - Africa Volume 3

Part of the book series: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World ((MAPW,volume 3))

Abstract

Use of pteridophytes for medicinal purposes is entrenched in cultural practices throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The current study is aimed at answering the following questions through a study of the literature: (i) Which pteridophyte species are used for medicinal purposes in sub-Saharan Africa? (ii) What are their therapeutic uses, preparation and administration? and (iii) What are the geospatial patterns of medicinal pteridophytes in sub-Saharan Africa? This investigation is based on review of the literature published in scientific journals, books, conference papers, floras, theses, reports from national, regional and international organizations obtained from libraries and electronic search of Google Scholar, ISI Web of Science and Scopus. A total of 99 pteridophyte species are used for medicinal purposes in sub-Saharan Africa, corresponding to 8.4% of the total pteridophyte species of the African continent. A total of 42 medical conditions are treated using herbal remedies made from pteridophyte species. Ethnopharmacological studies are recommended for the documented pteridophytes species as some of them have already shown interesting applications in primary healthcare.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Achan J, Talisuna AO, Erhart A, Yeka A, Tibenderana JK, Baliraine FN, Rosenthal PJ, D’Alessandro U (2011) Quinine, an old anti-malarial drug in a modern world: role in the treatment of malaria. Malar J 10:144

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Agra MF, Silva KN, Basílio IJLD, de Freitas PF, Barbosa-Filho JM (2008) Survey of medicinal plants used in the region Northeast of Brazil. Braz J Pharmacog 18(3):472–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aldasoro JJ, Cabezas F, Aedo C (2004) Diversity and distribution of ferns in sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar and some islands of the South Atlantic. J Biogeogr 31(10):1579–1604

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayyanar M, Ignacimuthu S (2009) Herbal medicines for wound healing among tribal people in southern India: ethnobotanical and scientific evidences. Int J Appl Res Nat Prod 2(3):29–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Baerts M, Lehmann J (1996) Plantes médicinales à effet placebo au Burundi. In: Schröder E, Balansard G, Cabalion P, Fleurentin J, Mazars G (eds) Médicaments et aliments: Approche ethnopharmacologique. Colloque Européen d’Ethnopharmacologie; Conférence Internationale d’Ethnomédecine, Colloques et Séminaires, 24–27 March 1993, Heidelberg, pp 343–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Bingham MG, Smith PP (2002) Zambia. In: Golding JS (ed) Southern African plant red data lists. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (SABONET) report no. 14, Pretoria, pp 135–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouquet A (1974) Plantes medicinales de la Côte d’Ivoire. Oratom, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Burrows JE (1990) Southern African ferns and fern allies. Frandsen Publishers, Johannesburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Bussmann RW, Sharon D (2006) Traditional medicinal plant use in northern Peru: tracking two thousand years of healing culture. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2:47

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chhabra SC, Mahunnah RLA, Mshiu EN (1987) Plants used in traditional medicine in eastern Tanzania 1. Pteridophytes and angiosperms (Acanthaceae to Canellaceae). J Ethnopharmacol 21(3):253–277

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cook F (1995) Economic botany data collection standard. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham AB (1993) African medicinal plants: setting priorities at the interface between conservation and primary healthcare. People and Plants Working Paper no. 1, UNESCO, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • de Winter WP, Jnasen PCM (2003) Selaginella Pal. Beauv. In: de Winter WP, Amoroso VB (eds) Plant resources of south-east Asia 15(2) cryptogams: ferns and fern allies. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, pp 261–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernández H, Kumar A, Revilla MA (2011) Working with ferns: issues and applications. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelfand M, Drummnd RB, Mavi S, Ndemera B (1985) The traditional medical practitioner in Zimbabwe: his principles of practice and pharmacopoeia. Mambo Press, Gweru

    Google Scholar 

  • Harley GW (1941) Native African medicine: with special reference to its practice in the Mano tribe of Liberia. Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Harnett SM, Oosthuizen V, van de Venter M (2005) Anti-HIV activities of organic and aqueous extracts of Sutherlandia frutescens and Lobostemon trigonus. J Ethnopharmacol 96(1–2):113–119

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ho R, Teai T, Bianchini J-P, Lafont R, Raharivelomanana P (2010) Ferns: from traditional uses to pharmaceutical development, chemical identification of active principles. In: Fernández H, Kumar A, Revilla MA (eds) Working with ferns: issues and applications. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp 321–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchings A (1992) Plants used for some stress-related ailments in traditional Zulu, Zhosa and Sotho medicine. MSc dissertation, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchings A, Scott AH, Lewis G, Cunningham AB (1996) Zulu medicinal plants: an inventory. University of Natal Press, Scottsville

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins MD (1987) Madagascar: an environmental profile. IUCN, Gland

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiofack T, Fokunang C, Kemeuze V, Fongnzossie E, Tsabang N, Nkuinkeu R, Mapongmetsem PM, Nkongmeneck BA (2008) Ethnobotany and phytopharmacopoea of the south-west ethnoecological region of Cameroon. J Med Pl Res 2(8):197–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Kisangau DP, Herrmann TM, Lyaruu HVM, Hosea KM, Joseph CC, Mbwambo ZH, Masimba PJ (2011) Traditional knowledge, use practices and conservation of medicinal plants for HIV/AIDS care in rural Tanzania. Ethnobot Res Appl 9:43–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kornaś J (1993) The significance of historical factors and ecological preference in the distribution of African pteridophytes. J Biogeogr 20(3):281–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemmens RMHJ (2008) Lycopodiella cerma (L.) Pic. Serm. In: Schmelzer GH, Gurib-Fakim A (eds) Plant resources of tropical Africa 11: medicinal plants 1. PROTA Foundation, Leiden, pp 365–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Long C (2005) Swaziland’s flora: siSwati names and uses. http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/clbotalpha.asp?l=C&pg=10. Downloaded on 2 August 2014

  • Malan DF, Neuba DFR (2011) Traditional practices and medicinal plant use during pregnancy by Anyi-Ndenye women (Eastern Côte d’Ivoire). Afr J Reprod Health 15(1):85–93

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mapaura A, Timberlake JR (2002) Zimbabwe. In: Golding JS (ed) Southern African plant red data lists. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (SABONET) report no. 14, Pretoria, pp 157–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Maroyi A (2013) Traditional use of medicinal plants in south-central Zimbabwe: review and perspectives. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 9:31

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Maroyi A (2014a) Not just minor wild edible forest products: consumption of pteridophytes in sub-Saharan Africa. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 10:78

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Maroyi A (2014b) Alternative medicines for HIV/AIDS in resource-poor settings: insight from traditional medicines use in sub-Saharan Africa. Trop J Pharm Res 13(9):1527–1536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews P (1993) Medicinal plants of the Tanzanian coastal forest: a list of species with local names and applications. The Society for Environmental Exploration, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Moteetee A, van Wyk BE (2011) The medical ethnobotany of Lesotho: a review. Bothalia 41(1):209–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nwosu MO (2002) Ethnobotanical studies on some pteridophytes of southern Nigeria. Econ Bot 56(3):255–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puri HS (1970) Indian pteridophytes used in folk remedies. Amer Fern J 60(4):137–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rates SMK (2001) Plants as sources of drugs. Toxicon 39(5):603–613

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roux JP (2003) Swaziland ferns and fern allies. SABONET report 19, National Botanical Institute, Pretoria

    Google Scholar 

  • Sassen M, Wan M (2006) Biodiversity and local priorities in a community near the Ivindo national park, Makokou, Gabon. Project IRET/CENAREST and CIFOR, Makokou.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semenya SS, Maroyi A (2013) Medicinal plants used for the treatment of tuberculosis by Bapedi traditional healers in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Afr J Tradit Compl Altern Med 10(2):316–323

    Google Scholar 

  • Setyawan AD (2009) Traditionally utilization of Selaginella: field research and literature review. Nusantara Biosci 1(3):146–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Shale TL, Stirk WA, van Staden J (1999) Screening of medicinal plants used in Lesotho for anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activity. J Ethnopharmacol 67(3):347–354

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tabuti JRS, Kukunda CB, Kaweesi D, Kasib OMJ (2012) Herbal medicine use in the districts of Nakapiripirit, Pallisa, Kanungu and Mukono in Uganda. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 8:35

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Talukdar S (2002) Lesotho. In: Golding JS (ed) Southern African plant red data lists. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (SABONET) report no. 14, Pretoria, pp 21–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Terashima H, Kalaya S, Malasi N (1991) Ethnobotany of the Lega in the tropical rainforest of eastern Zaire: part one, zone de Mwenga. Afr Stud Monogr 15(suppl.):1–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Termote C (2012) Wild edible plant us in Tshopo District, Democratic Republic of Congo. Ph.D.Thesis. Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesfaye A, Sebsebe D (2009) Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Kafficho people, southwestern Ethiopia. In: Svein E, Harald A, Birhanu T, Shiferaw B (eds) Proceedings of the 16th international conference of Ethiopian studies. NTNU-Trykk Press, Trondheim, pp 711–726

    Google Scholar 

  • Timberlake J (1994) Vernacular names and uses of plants in northern Kenya. J East Afr Nat Hist 83(1):31–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Burg WJ (2004a) Marsilea minuta L. In: Grubben GJH, Denton OA (eds) Plant resources of tropical Africa 2: vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Leiden, pp 379–380

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Burg WJ (2004b) Ophioglossum reticulatum L. In: Grubben GJH, Denton OA (eds) Plant resources of tropical Africa 2: vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Leiden, pp 404–405

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Burg WJ (2004c) Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn. In: Grubben GJH, Denton OA (eds) Plant resources of tropical Africa 2: vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Leiden, pp 439–441

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Burg WJ (2004d) Stenochlaena tenuifolia (Desv.) T. Moore. In: Grubben GJH, Denton OA (eds) Plant resources of tropical Africa 2: vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Leiden, pp 515–516

    Google Scholar 

  • van Wyk B-E, Gericke N (2007) Peoples plants: a guide to useful plants of southern Africa. Briza Publications, Cape Town

    Google Scholar 

  • van Wyk B-E, van Oudtshoorn B, Gericke N (2013) Medicinal plants of South Africa. Briza Publications, Cape Town

    Google Scholar 

  • Watt JM, Brandwijk MG (1962) Themedicinal and poisonous plants of southern and eastern Africa. E and S Livingstone, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams VL, Balkwill K, Witkowski ETF (2001) A lexicon of plants traded in the Witwatersrand umuthi shops, South Africa. Bothalia 31(1):71–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (2002) Traditional medicine strategy 2002–2005. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamada T (1999) A report on the ethnobotany of the Nyindu in the eastern part of the former Zaire. Afr Stud Monogr 20(1):1–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Yarborough SC, Powell AM (2002) Ferns and fern allies of the Trans-Pecos and adjacent areas. Texas Tech University Press, Texas

    Google Scholar 

  • Yineger H, Kelbessa E, Bekele T, Lulekal E (2007) Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants at Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. J Ethnopharmacol 112(1):55–70

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zimudzi C, Bosch CH (2008) Lycopodium clavatum L. In: Schmelzer GH, Gurib-Fakim A (eds) Plant resources of tropical Africa 11: medicinal plants 1. PROTA Foundation, Leiden, pp 366–369

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author is thankful to the Govan Mbeki Research and Development Centre (GMRDC), University of Fort Hare, South Africa for funding the research project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa

    Alfred Maroyi

Authors
  1. Alfred Maroyi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alfred Maroyi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Arid Zone Research Institute, Médenine, Tunisia

    Mohamed Neffati

  2. Min of Agriculture, Range Ecology Laboratory, Arid Zone Research Institute, Médenine, Tunisia

    Hanen Najjaa

  3. Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, University of West Hungary, Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary

    Ákos Máthé

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Maroyi, A. (2017). Utilization of Pteridophytes as Herbal Medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Neffati, M., Najjaa, H., Máthé, Á. (eds) Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World - Africa Volume 3. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1120-1_16

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation