Ethnopharmacology of Medicinal Plants in Traditional Healing Practices

Ethnopharmacology explores the complex relationships between people and medicinal plants, documenting traditional healing practices and guiding modern drug discovery. It integrates ethnobotanical fieldwork, phytochemical analysis and pharmacological evaluation to validate indigenous remedies and elucidate bioactive compounds. Across continents, communities employ decoctions, infusions and poultices prepared from leaves, bark, roots and seeds to treat a wide spectrum of ailments, from infectious diseases and inflammation to chronic conditions such as cancer and diabetes. The field emphasises the importance of quantitative indices—such as use value and informant consensus factor—to prioritise species for further study, and adopts multidisciplinary approaches that bridge anthropology, chemistry, molecular biology and conservation science. Recent advances include high-throughput screening of crude extracts, metabolomic profiling of secondary metabolites, in vitro and in vivo assays to assess efficacy and safety, and biocultural conservation strategies that engage local healers and safeguard endangered flora. This integrated framework not only deepens understanding of the molecular basis of traditional medicine but also supports equitable benefit sharing and sustainable management of botanical resources on a global scale.

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Recent ethnobotanical fieldwork in Kenya documented 253 medicinal plant species used by local healers in Nandi County. Quantitative indices such as use value and informant consensus factor highlighted priority species for treating parasitic, infectious and inflammatory disorders. Leaves and roots were the most frequently harvested parts, while decoctions and poultices represented the dominant formulations. The study underscored the vitality of community knowledge in identifying understudied taxa with promising pharmacological profiles and recommended targeted phytochemical and bioassay-guided investigations.

A systematic review of the genus Dacryodes synthesised ethnobotanical accounts, phytochemical data and biological activities of key species such as Dacryodes edulis and Dacryodes rostrata. Terpenoids, flavonoids and other secondary metabolites were characterised and linked to documented antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and anticancer effects. The work called for standardised extraction protocols, mechanistic studies to delineate molecular targets and toxicity assessments to inform safe therapeutic use.

An analysis of African herbal medicines highlighted both therapeutic potentials and safety concerns associated with traditional remedies. Reviews of adverse effects, cytotoxicity assays and case reports revealed the need for rigorous toxicological evaluation alongside efficacy studies. The authors proposed integrated regulatory frameworks and community-driven monitoring to ensure quality control, minimise harmful interactions and optimise the development of novel botanicals.

Ethnopharmacology of Medicinal Plants in Traditional Healing Practices publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in ethnopharmacology of medicinal plants in traditional healing practices across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ethnopharmacology: The interdisciplinary study of traditional medicine, combining ethnobotany, pharmacology and chemistry to understand how cultural practices inform therapeutic use of plants.

Phytochemicals: Bioactive chemical compounds produced by plants, including alkaloids, terpenoids and flavonoids, which contribute to medicinal properties.

Use value: A quantitative index reflecting the relative importance of a plant species based on the number of medicinal applications cited by informants.

Informant consensus factor: A measure of agreement among traditional practitioners on the use of plant species for specific ailment categories, guiding the prioritisation of species for further study.

Secondary metabolites: Non-nutritive plant compounds that often serve defensive roles and exhibit pharmacological activity, such as antimicrobial or anticancer effects.

References

1. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the people of Mosop, Nandi County in Kenya. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2024).
2. The Genus Dacryodes Vahl.: Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities. Pharmaceuticals (2023).
3. African Herbal Medicines: Adverse Effects and Cytotoxic Potentials with Different Therapeutic Applications. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021).