Plants used for the management of paediatric ailments in Zimbabwe: A narrative review

Abstract

Background: Children are susceptible to various types of infections and diseases because of their low and weakened immune system. In various communities throughout the world, medicinal plants have historically been used to treat and manage paediatric diseases and ailments.

Aim: The current study was aimed at identifying and analysing medicinal plants used traditionally to treat and manage paediatric diseases in Zimbabwe.

Setting: This review provides an overview of medicinal plants used to manage paediatric ailments in Zimbabwe.

Method: Ethnobotanical information on medicinal plants used to treat and manage paediatric diseases in Zimbabwe was obtained using online databases such as Scopus, JSTOR, PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct.

Results: A total of 178 taxa belonging to 64 families have been documented as traditional medicines for paediatric diseases and ailments in Zimbabwe. Cryptolepis oblongifolia, Asparagus spp., Dichrostachys cinerea, Fadogia ancylantha, Inula glomerata, Lannea edulis and Strychnos spinosa are the most popular medicinal plants with four to five use reports each. Medicinal plants are used to treat and manage 41 childhood medical conditions in Zimbabwe.

Conclusion: Baseline data provided in this study can be used for future ethnopharmacological research focusing on chemical, pharmacological and toxicological evaluations of the documented species.

Contribution: This study contributes to the existing literature about medicinal plants used to treat and manage paediatric diseases, and such data can be used to develop new health-promoting products for children and also pharmaceutical products that can be used to reduce child or infant mortality rate.