An Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used to Manage Diabetes in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder associated with hyperglycaemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion reaction. Medicinal plants are becoming a strong potential alternative to synthetic medication, diet, and exercise due to their reported fewer side effects, affordability, and availability. The study gathers traditional information about medicinal plants used for diabetes in Bulawayo province.

Methods

Eighty traditional medical practitioners and twenty diabetes patients were recruited for the survey. Interviews, observations, and field surveys were used to collect data.

Results

Ninety-seven plants were mentioned (40 cultivated plants and 57 indigenous plants). Only 49 plant species belonging to 28 families were identified at the National Herbarium, with Fabaceae recorded the highest(22%). Zanthoxylum capense (Thunb.) Harv., Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill and Monotes engleri Gilg. were frequently used for diabetes management. In addition to having high ethnobotanical indices values, the identified plants were reported to be antidiabetic in the literature reviewed. Only five species were not reported. Tamarindus indica L. was cited 15 times, followed by Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (14 times) and Adansonia digitata L. (10 times). Herbal formulations were mainly infusion of fresh/dried parts(36%) or powder(13%) followed by decoction(12%) and cooking(6%), and were all administered orally. The commonly used plant parts were roots(32%), leaves(11, 5%), and fruits(7%).

Discussion/Conclusions

Various diabetic effects reported by the participants were affirmed by the reviewed literature. The study recommends the use of ethnomedicinal plants as both alternative and complementary diabetic medicine.