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Background:
Systematic Review

Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for Cancer Treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

by
Tomi Lois Adetunji
1,2,*,
Funsho Oyetunde-Joshua
3,
Olalekan Bukunmi Ogunro
4,
Olumayowa Andrew
5 and
Stephen O. Amoo
1,2
1
Agricultural Research Council—Vegetables, Industrial and Medicinal Plants, Private Bag X293, Roodeplaat, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
2
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
3
Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Philomath University, Kuje 900105, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
4
Drug Discovery, Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Laboratory (DDPT-RL), Department of Biological Sciences, KolaDaisi University, Ibadan 200213, Oyo State, Nigeria
5
Centre for Soil, Agrifood and Biosciences, Cranfield University, College Road, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2026, 15(12), 1836; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15121836 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 15 May 2026 / Revised: 8 June 2026 / Accepted: 10 June 2026 / Published: 13 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants as Sources of Natural and Recombinant Anti-Cancer Agents)
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Abstract

Cancer represents one of the major public health issues in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with increasing incidence and mortality rates as a result of late diagnosis, limited healthcare infrastructure, and financial difficulties. Traditional medicine plays an important role in healthcare across different populations in SSA, as more than 80% of the population depend on indigenous plant-based remedies for treating or managing different ailments, including cancer. This study aimed to document medicinal plants traditionally used to treat cancer in SSA. A systematic search of all documents available in the last two decades (2006–2026) was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. After screening studies using the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 55 studies met the eligibility requirements and were selected for analysis based on their relevance to the topic, geographic scope, and reported applications in cancer management. The scientific names of the identified plant species and their taxonomic authorities were verified using the Plants of the World Online database. A total of 556 species, belonging to 110 families, were recorded as medicinal plants used to treat various forms of cancer in SSA. The top five families with the most frequently used plants were Fabaceae (51 species), Asteraceae (34 species), Euphorbiaceae (25 species), Apocynaceae (22 species) and Lamiaceae (22 species). Frequently cited plants include Kigelia africana, Annona muricata, Adansonia digitata, Carica papaya, and Tamarindus indica. A total of 11 plant parts were documented, with leaves (41.20%), roots (18.75%), and bark (17.25%) being the dominant plant parts utilised. The primary methods of preparation were decoction (38.23%), powdering and grinding (14.51%), and infusion and tea preparation (49.73%), while the main modes of administration were oral (66.88%) and topical (26.46%). The results show that traditional medicinal plants hold significant potential as sources of novel anticancer drugs in SSA. However, a significant gap exists between ethnobotanical knowledge, laboratory research, and clinical application. Rigorous pharmacological and toxicity evaluations and well-designed clinical trials on the identified medicinal plants are needed to integrate effective and safe plant-based therapies into evidence-based oncology.

1. Introduction

Cancer represents a critical and escalating public health challenge globally, ranking as the second leading cause of mortality worldwide and the third leading cause of premature death in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) [1]. The disease is characterised by the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells that evade programmed cell death mechanisms. According to GLOBOCAN 2020 estimates, 19.3 million new cancer cases were diagnosed globally, resulting in approximately 10 million deaths [2]. Projections indicate a 70% increase in cancer incidence by 2030, driven by population ageing, lifestyle factors, environmental carcinogens, and tobacco and alcohol consumption, with the majority of this burden expected to occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where healthcare infrastructure remains inadequate [3,4].
Sub-Saharan Africa, comprising 48 countries with a current population exceeding one billion and projected to reach two billion by 2050, faces a disproportionate cancer-related morbidity and mortality burden. In 2020, the region recorded between 801,392 and 1,109,209 new cancer cases, with 520,158 to 711,429 associated deaths [1,5,6]. Cancer now accounts for approximately one in seven deaths in SSA, with breast and cervical cancers predominating among women, ranking first in 28 and 19 countries, respectively, while prostate, liver, and colorectal cancers are most prevalent among men [7,8,9]. The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer among women in SSA is estimated at 4.1%, with cervical cancer at 3.5%. Alarmingly, without urgent intervention, annual cancer mortality in the region is projected to nearly double from approximately 520,000 in 2020 to one million by 2030, reflecting an epidemiological transition toward non-communicable diseases [7,10].
The cancer burden in SSA is further exacerbated by systemic healthcare challenges. More than 70% of African cancer patients present at advanced stages of disease, significantly limiting curative treatment options [4]. The region has the lowest global availability of cancer diagnostic and therapeutic infrastructure, including severe shortages of oncology specialists, essential medicines, radiotherapy centres, and pathology services [9]. Financial barriers compound these challenges, as the high cost of conventional cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, renders them inaccessible to the majority of the population. For instance, ethnographic surveys in Togo revealed that while tumours are diagnosed in hospitals, patients predominantly seek treatment from traditional healers using medicinal plants due to prohibitive oncology costs [11]. Furthermore, conventional therapies are associated with significant adverse effects, non-specific toxicity, and multidrug resistance mediated by drug efflux transporters, further limiting their clinical utility [12]. The concurrent use of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) among cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment is well documented in SSA, driven by accessibility, cultural acceptance, and perceived safety of herbal remedies [13].
Natural products have historically served as a rich source of anticancer therapeutics. Approximately 60% of currently approved anticancer drugs are derived from natural sources or are nature-inspired compounds [14,15,16]. Notable examples include vinblastine and vincristine from Catharanthus roseus, paclitaxel (Taxol) from Taxus brevifolia, topotecan from Camptotheca acuminata, and etoposide from Podophyllum peltatum [17]. Plant-derived phytochemicals exert anticancer effects through multiple mechanisms including induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of angiogenesis, and modulation of key tumorigenic signalling pathways [18]. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 80% of the global population, particularly in developing regions, relies on traditional herbal medicine for primary healthcare [19]. In Africa, this dependency is particularly pronounced, with an estimated 80% of the population utilising medicinal plants owing to their accessibility, affordability, cultural acceptance, and perceived minimal side effects [20]. Africa’s diverse ecological zones including tropical rainforests, savannahs, and highland ecosystems, harbour extensive botanical diversity, providing a vast repository of medicinal flora. Traditional knowledge systems, transmitted intergenerationally, guide the therapeutic application of these plants, which are prepared through various methods including decoctions, infusions, and pastes among others. Phytochemical investigations have identified bioactive compounds in African medicinal plants, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and saponins, many of which exhibit cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo [1,21].
Several reports have documented the ethnobotanical use of medicinal plants for cancer treatment in this region. For example, Raimi et al. [12] reported 207 plant species from 70 families, with 48% demonstrating documented cytotoxic activity, predominantly from the Asteraceae and Fabaceae families, targeting breast, skin, colorectal, cervical, and prostate cancers. A scientometric analysis by Adico et al. [3] identified 204 plant species across 57 families, with Amaryllidaceae, Fabaceae, Annonaceae, and Asteraceae being the most prevalent; plant extracts from these families have been shown to exert anticancer activity primarily through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest [3]. Regional studies have revealed distinct ethnobotanical patterns: in East Africa, Kudamba et al. [22] documented 105 species from 45 families, with Uganda showing the highest diversity; in the Elgon Sub-Region of Uganda, 50 species from 36 families were identified, with Fabaceae and Asteraceae predominating and decoctions of leaves and roots representing the most common preparation methods [23,24]. Ethnobotanical surveys in central Uganda by Lutoti et al. [25] further documented the diversity of plants used by traditional health practitioners for breast cancer treatment, underscoring the depth of indigenous pharmacological knowledge. Similarly, in West Africa, ethnopharmacological surveys in Ghana’s Ashanti Region identified 151 plant species, with notable representation from the Meliaceae family [26], while studies conducted in Togo documented 70 species across 39 families, particularly Rubiaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Fabaceae, and Annonaceae [11]. A comprehensive review by Coulibaly et al. [27] further characterised the molecular mechanisms of sub-Saharan African plant-derived substances against prostate and cervical cancer cells, providing a scientific basis for their ethnomedicinal use. Taken together, these findings highlight the enormous, untapped potential of SSA’s botanical heritage as a source of novel anticancer compounds, and underscore the urgent need for systematic phytochemical and pharmacological investigations to validate, optimise, and translate these traditional remedies into evidence-based therapeutic agents [28].
Despite these valuable contributions, a comprehensive and up-to-date systematic review synthesising ethnobotanical data on anticancer medicinal plants across the entire sub-Saharan African region remains lacking. This systematic review therefore aims to: (1) compile and analyse ethnobotanical data on medicinal plants traditionally used for cancer treatment in SSA; (2) document plant species, families, parts used, preparation methods, and cancer types addressed; (3) evaluate the phytochemical and pharmacological evidence supporting traditional uses; and (4) identify knowledge gaps and priorities for future research. By providing a consolidated evidence base, this review seeks to inform drug discovery initiatives, validate traditional knowledge systems, and contribute to the development of accessible, affordable, and culturally appropriate cancer therapeutics for sub-Saharan African populations.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Search Strategy

A systematic literature search on medicinal plants used for cancer management in sub-Saharan Africa was conducted across three electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The search covered all articles published from January 2006 to April 2026. The following keywords were used in the search: ethnobotany OR traditional medicine OR herbal medicine OR phytotherapy AND cancer OR anticancer OR antineoplastic OR tumour OR malignancy AND sub-Saharan Africa OR individual country names within the region AND medicinal plants OR ethnomedicine. Boolean operators and exact search strings were employed, such as (“medicinal plants” OR “ethnobotany” OR “traditional medicine” OR “herbal medicine”) AND (“cancer” OR “anticancer” OR “antineoplastic” OR “tumour” OR “malignancy” OR “oncology”) AND (“Sub-Saharan Africa” OR “West Africa” OR “East Africa” OR “Southern Africa” OR “Central Africa”). The search was restricted to articles published in English. In total, the initial search yielded 843 records from the databases. Following screening and eligibility assessment, 55 research articles met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in this review (Figure 1). Articles were initially screened based on title and abstract, after which full-text papers were retrieved and evaluated for eligibility. All keywords were searched electronically, while titles and abstracts were screened manually. This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines for reporting systematic reviews [29,30].

2.2. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria and Data Extraction

Research articles were included if they described the use of medicinal plants for cancer treatment or management in sub-Saharan Africa and met the following inclusion criteria: (a) original research articles published in peer-reviewed journals; (b) ethnobotanical studies conducted in sub-Saharan African countries; (c) focus on medicinal plants traditionally used for cancer treatment or management; (d) provision of specific botanical identification using accepted scientific nomenclature for at least one plant species; and (e) articles written in English. Exclusion criteria included meta-analyses and studies focused exclusively on synthetic compounds or pharmaceutical derivatives; articles lacking detailed botanical information or species identification; research on non-cancer diseases or conditions and publications with unclear or poorly described methodologies. The scientific names of all identified plant species and their taxonomic authorities were validated using the Plants of the World Online (POWO) database to ensure nomenclatural accuracy and consistency. Data were extracted from eligible articles using a standardised form.

2.3. Quality Assessment

The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using adapted criteria for ethnobotanical research. Evaluation considered aspects such as proper botanical identification, documentation of traditional knowledge holders, ethical considerations, and clarity of reporting. No formal risk of bias assessment tool was applied.

3. Results

3.1. Geographical Distribution and Regional Variations

Figure 2 illustrates the geographical distribution of reported traditional anticancer medicinal plant use across sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 556 plant-use records were extracted from the included studies across sub-Saharan Africa, spanning West, East, Central, and Southern African sub-regions. Of the 16 countries represented in this review, the majority of plant-use records originated from West Africa, particularly Ghana (n = 170), Togo (n = 72), and Nigeria (n = 21), and East Africa, including Uganda (n = 74), Kenya (n = 37), and Ethiopia (n = 23), while Southern Africa contributed records from South Africa (n = 92) and Zimbabwe (n = 17). Central African countries were only marginally represented, with Cameroon (n = 11), Gabon (n = 1), the Republic of Congo (n = 1), the Democratic Republic of Congo (n = 1), Chad (n = 1), and the Central African Republic (n = 1) accounting for minimal documentation (Table 1). Notably, West African countries such as Senegal (n = 1) and Guinea (n = 1) were similarly under-represented (Table 1).
West Africa contributed the largest share of plant-use records within the dataset. Ghana alone accounted for 170 records representing 170 unique species, with almost all records derived from studies conducted in the Ashanti Region (n = 167), rendering it the single most extensively studied ethnic community in this review (Table 1). The dominant plant families documented in Ghana were Fabaceae (n = 14), Apocynaceae (n = 12), Euphorbiaceae (n = 11), and Malvaceae (n = 11). Ethnobotanical practice in the Ashanti community was characterised by a strong preference for decoction (n = 108) and tea preparation (n = 21), with oral administration constituting the predominant route of delivery. The most frequently reported cancer indications in Ghana were skin cancer (n = 85), breast cancer (n = 80), stomach cancer (n = 48), and prostate cancer (n = 38). Togo contributed 72 records representing 72 unique species, with plant use reported predominantly among the Kabyè (n = 25) and Tem (n = 20) ethnic communities. The leading families in Togo were Caesalpiniaceae, Fabaceae, and Rubiaceae (each n = 5), and Annonaceae and Meliaceae (each n = 3). Preparation in Togo was characterised by a dual dominance of decoction (n = 34) and powdering (n = 34), alongside notable use of medicinal sauces (n = 12), a culturally distinctive preparation method not prominently recorded elsewhere in the dataset. The primary cancer indications reported in Togo were breast cancer (n = 32), chronic wound and ulcerous conditions (n = 28), and lung cancer (n = 17). Nigeria contributed 18 records across 21 unique species, with studies from Adamawa State (n = 8) documenting use among the Mubi community (Table 1).
East Africa was represented primarily by Uganda and Kenya. Uganda yielded 74 plant-use records spanning 71 unique species, documented predominantly within the Elgon Sub-Region (n = 47) and Kampala (n = 6), with additional records from Mukono/Buikwe (n = 4) and Pallisa (n = 2). The leading families in Uganda were Fabaceae (n = 8), Asteraceae (n = 5), Lamiaceae and Sapindaceae (each n = 3). Preparation in Uganda was dominated by decoction (n = 38), alongside burning of plant materials (n = 9) and boiling (n = 9), practices less commonly documented in West African studies. The most frequently targeted cancers in Uganda were prostate (n = 32) and cervical cancers (n = 32), followed by lung cancer (n = 22) and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) cancers (n = 19), indicating a distinctly different cancer-treatment profile compared to West African communities. Ethiopia contributed 23 records spanning 25 unique species, with decoction also predominating as the principal preparation method. Kenya yielded 37 records representing 38 unique species, with the most commonly addressed cancers being colorectal (n = 16), breast (n = 15), and skin (n = 12) cancers.
Southern Africa was represented principally by South Africa (n = 92 records) and Zimbabwe (n = 17 records; 17 unique species). South Africa exhibited the most diverse botanical family representation in this sub-region, with Asteraceae (n = 13), Lamiaceae (n = 8), Hypoxidaceae (n = 5), Amaryllidaceae (n = 4), and Apocynaceae (n = 4) being most prominent. Notably, the South African studies showed a higher proportion of laboratory-validated cancer targets, with several records referencing specific cancer cell lines including MCF-7 (breast), CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR5000 (leukaemia), DU-145 (prostate), and renal TK10 and melanoma UACC62 cell lines, reflecting a more pharmacologically oriented reporting approach compared to purely ethnobotanical documentation observed in West and East African studies. Studies in South Africa were conducted among the Eastern Cape and Western communities. Zimbabwe contributed records across the Bulawayo (n = 2), Manicaland (n = 2), and Masvingo (n = 2) provinces (Table 1).
Several plant species were documented across more than one country or sub-region, indicating widespread ethnomedicinal utilisation and potential cross-cultural transmission of traditional knowledge. Conversely, a number of species appeared geographically restricted, likely reflecting local ecological availability, endemic botanical distribution, or culturally specific healing traditions. Overall, the geographic data reveal distinct regional variations not only in species selection and family diversity, but also in cancer-type priorities, preparation methods, and the depth of ethnobotanical documentation (Table 1).

3.2. Diversity of Medicinal Plant Species and Families

The compiled data presented in Table 1 revealed a broad diversity of medicinal plants traditionally used for cancer management across sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 556 plant species belonging to 110 botanical families were documented across the included studies. Several plant families were consistently represented across multiple studies, reflecting their prominence in traditional anticancer medicine in the region. The top five families with the highest species representation were Fabaceae (n = 51), Asteraceae (n = 34), Euphorbiaceae (n = 25), Apocynaceae (n = 22), and Lamiaceae (n = 22). Other frequently represented families included Rubiaceae (n = 20), Malvaceae (n = 17), Solanaceae (n = 17), Meliaceae (n = 16), and Rutaceae (n = 14) (Figure 3). The consistent representation of Fabaceae and Asteraceae across multiple geographically distinct studies highlights their particular significance in indigenous cancer-related ethnomedicine throughout the region.
Among the most frequently cited individual species, Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. was the most recurrently documented species, recorded across five independent studies. This was followed by Annona muricata L., Adansonia digitata L., Carica papaya L., Tamarindus indica L., and Moringa oleifera Lam., each cited in three studies. The recurrence of these species across geographically distinct study populations suggests widespread and cross-culturally consistent traditional knowledge regarding their anticancer properties.

3.3. Plant Parts Utilised

A total of 11 distinct plant part categories were documented across the included studies, with a total of 864 individual plant part mentions recorded. Leaves were the most predominantly utilised plant part, accounting for 356 mentions (41.20%), followed by roots (n = 162; 18.75%), and bark, including stem bark and root bark (n = 134; 15.51%). Fruits represented the fourth most commonly documented plant part (n = 69; 7.99%), followed by stems (n = 47; 5.44%), underground storage organs including rhizomes, bulbs, corms, and tubers (n = 38; 4.39%), and the whole plant (n = 18; 2.08%). Less frequently documented plant parts included seeds (n = 14; 1.62%), flowers and calyces (n = 14; 1.62%), and plant exudates including latex, sap, and resin (n = 8; 0.93%) (Figure 4).
The predominance of aerial vegetative parts, particularly leaves, is consistent with patterns reported in ethnobotanical literature across sub-Saharan Africa, where leaves are generally more accessible, renewable, and less destructive to harvest than underground organs.

3.4. Methods of Preparation

Across the 586 individual preparation methods recorded, decoction was by far the most frequently employed method, accounting for 224 mentions (38.23%). This was followed by powdering and grinding (n = 85; 14.51%), infusion and tea preparation (n = 57; 9.73%), paste and poultice preparation (n = 23; 3.92%), boiling by methods other than decoction (n = 22; 3.75%), juice extraction and squeezing (n = 21; 3.58%), maceration (n = 18; 3.07%), and raw consumption (n = 9; 1.54%) (Table 1). The dominance of decoction as the primary mode of preparation is consistent with the broader ethnobotanical literature and likely reflects the efficiency of aqueous extraction in rendering bioactive phytochemical constituents bioavailable.

3.5. Routes of Administration

Five principal routes of administration were recorded across the 480 individual administration mentions documented in Table 1. Oral administration was overwhelmingly predominant, accounting for 321 mentions (66.88%), followed by topical application (n = 127; 26.46%). Less common routes included body bathing (n = 9; 1.88%), massage (n = 9; 1.88%), nasal administration (n = 5; 1.04%), and inhalation or smoking (n = 2; 0.42%). Oral and topical routes combined accounted for over 93% of all recorded administration modes, reflecting the principal delivery mechanisms employed in traditional cancer management within the region.

3.6. Cancer Types Addressed

The documented medicinal plants were reported for use against a diverse range of cancer types (Figure 5). Breast cancer was the most frequently targeted malignancy, accounting for 222 plant-use records (24.3% of all cancer-type mentions), followed by skin cancer and melanoma (n = 175; 19.2%), prostate cancer (n = 94; 10.3%), colorectal cancer (n = 84; 9.2%), and lung cancer (n = 74; 8.1%). Additional cancer types reported included throat and oesophageal cancers (n = 61; 6.7%), stomach and gastric cancers (n = 57; 6.2%), cervical cancer (n = 48; 5.3%), brain cancer (n = 46; 5.0%), leukaemia (n = 32; 3.5%), and liver and hepatic cancers (n = 20; 2.2%). The preponderance of breast and skin cancer records is consistent with epidemiological data indicating the high burden of these malignancies among women in sub-Saharan Africa, and with the accessibility of topically applied plant preparations for visible or surface tumours.

3.7. Molecular Mechanism of Anticancer Action of Selected Plant Species

While the vast majority of plant species documented in this review are supported solely by ethnobotanical evidence, some of the identified species have been subjected to experimental pharmacological investigation to elucidate their molecular mechanisms of anticancer action. This section summarises the available mechanistic evidence for six priority species that are either among the most frequently cited in Table 1, are already the source of clinically approved anticancer drugs, or have been validated against cancer cell lines. These mechanistic findings provide an evidence base to contextualise traditional use and identify lead compounds for further pharmaceutical development.
Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don
Catharanthus roseus, documented in this review from South Africa and Uganda (Table 1), is the source of two of the most clinically important anticancer agents of plant origin: vincristine and vinblastine. These bisindole alkaloids exert their cytotoxic effects by binding to β-tubulin at the vinca domain, thereby inhibiting tubulin polymerisation and blocking assembly of the mitotic spindle [38]. This binding causes metaphase arrest by preventing the dynamic instability of microtubules required for chromosome segregation, ultimately triggering apoptosis in rapidly proliferating cancer cells [38]. Molecular docking analyses have identified key interaction sites including C-Lys336 and B-Glu183 residues on β-tubulin, with both catharanthine and vindoline moieties of the dimeric alkaloids contributing to binding affinity [38]. Vincristine is currently used clinically for the treatment of acute leukaemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and paediatric solid tumours, while vinblastine is used for the treatment of testicular cancer and Hodgkin’s disease. Multidrug resistance mediated by P-glycoprotein (MDR1/ABCB1) overexpression is the principal mechanism by which cancer cells acquire resistance to vinca alkaloids, providing a rationale for exploring combinatorial or structural analogue strategies to overcome resistance [38].
Annona muricata L.
Annona muricata (soursop), documented across Ghana, Togo, and Uganda in this review, contains annonaceous acetogenins (ACGs) as its principal bioactive class. These long-chain fatty acid derivatives, including bullatacin, annomuricin A, annohexocin, and muricatocin A, are among the most potent natural cytotoxins identified, with IC50 values in the nanomolar range against multiple cancer cell lines [39]. ACGs exert anticancer effects primarily through selective inhibition of mitochondrial NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I), resulting in ATP depletion, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, and induction of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway [39]. Downstream consequences include increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cytochrome c release into the cytosol, and sequential activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 [39]. Additional mechanisms include cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and suppression of NF-κB translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus, thereby inhibiting pro-survival gene transcription in lung (A549), breast (MCF-7), colon, and prostate cancer cell lines [40]. Molecular docking studies have demonstrated stable interactions of ACGs with Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Mcl-1 anti-apoptotic proteins, reinforcing the multi-target nature of this compound class [41]. The selective toxicity of ACGs toward cancer cells over normal cells is attributed to the higher energy demands and altered mitochondrial activity of malignant cells.
Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth.
Kigelia africana, the most frequently cited species in this review (documented across five independent studies from Togo, Uganda, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa), has been the subject of multiple pharmacological investigations. The fruit and bark contain naphthoquinones (kigelinole, isokigelinole, pinnatal, isopinnatal, lapachol), iridoid glycosides (specioside, verminoside, minecoside, catalpol), phenolic acids, and ellagitannins [42]. Mechanistic studies in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells demonstrated that K. africana fruit extract modulated Bax/Bcl-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner, activating caspase-3, caspase-9, and cleaved PARP (poly-ADP-ribose polymerase), which are hallmarks of the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway [42]. Cytometric analysis revealed sub-G1 phase accumulation indicative of apoptosis, alongside activation of the MAPK signalling pathway [42]. A recent integrative evaluation in HT-29 colorectal carcinoma cells demonstrated that K. africana fruit extract suppressed 42 oncology-related proteins across cell survival, apoptosis, adhesion, invasion, and signalling networks, and produced marked synergistic cytotoxicity in combination with cisplatin [43]. Studies in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells further showed modulation of TP53 expression and inhibition of HER2-linked signalling cascades [43]. The selective cytotoxicity of K. africana extracts towards malignant cells and not on normal cells suggests specific modulation of defined molecular tumour targets and supports its prioritisation as a candidate for bioassay-guided fractionation and lead compound identification or for standardised active ingredient development.
Moringa oleifera Lam.
Moringa oleifera, documented across Zimbabwe, Togo, and Uganda, is rich in glucosinolates, principally glucomoringin, whose enzymatic hydrolysis by myrosinase yields the isothiocyanate 4-[(α-L-rhamnosyloxy)benzyl] isothiocyanate (moringin; MIC-1) [44]. This bioactive compound has been demonstrated to inhibit proliferation of human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y), glioma (U251), breast (MDA-MB-231), cervical (HeLa), and renal (786-O) cancer cell lines through different mechanisms [44]. In glioma cells, MIC-1 derivatives significantly increased the Bax:Bcl-2 ratio and activated caspase-3, arresting cells at the G2/M phase [44]. In A549 non-small-cell lung cancer cells, alkaloid extract of M. oleifera suppressed JAK2/STAT3 signalling, a pathway critically involved in tumour cell proliferation, survival, and immune evasion [45]. In renal carcinoma, MIC-1 inhibited cell migration and invasion by suppressing PTP1B-dependent Src/Ras/Raf/ERK signalling and reducing expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 [46]. In lymphoma models, M. oleifera leaf extract induced G2/M phase arrest, upregulated p53 and p21, and activated MEK/ERK-mediated apoptotic pathways in vivo [46]. The isothiocyanate pharmacophore (R–NCS) also directly targets IKKβ (IκB kinase beta), suppressing NF-κB activation and downstream pro-inflammatory and pro-survival gene transcription [46], providing a mechanistic basis for the broad anticancer activity reported across multiple cancer types in ethnobotanical surveys.
Vernonia amygdalina Delile
Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf), documented for general cancer use in Ethiopia, is a member of the Asteraceae family with a rich sesquiterpene lactone chemistry. Key bioactive compounds include vernodalin, vernolepin, vernolide, vernodalol, and vernodalidimer [47]. These elemanolide sesquiterpenoids have demonstrated potent, broad-spectrum cytotoxicity against multiple cancer cell lines, with vernolide showing IC50 values of 0.91–13.84 μM across ten cancer lines [47]. Mechanistically, vernodalin, vernolepin, and vernolide induce G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and dose-dependent apoptosis in HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells, with annexin-V flow cytometry confirming phosphatidylserine externalisation as a hallmark of early apoptosis [47]. In A549 lung cancer cells, these compounds arrested the cell cycle at G0/G1 at sub-cytotoxic doses and at G2/M at cytotoxic doses, with mechanistic studies confirming modulation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway via hydrogen-bond interactions at the FERM domain of JAK2 identified by molecular docking [47]. Anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects are further mediated by targeting ERK-1, ERK-2, NF-κB, STAT3, MMP-2, and MMP-9 [48]. At the apoptotic level, caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation is enhanced while Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression is inhibited, triggering cytochrome c release consistent with the intrinsic pathway. Whole leaf extracts of V. amygdalina also downregulate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and suppress HER2-mediated signalling in breast cancer models, providing multiple molecular entry points for anticancer activity [47].
Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch. & C.A.Mey
Hypoxis hemerocallidea (African potato), documented in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Uganda in this review, and explicitly referenced against DU-145 (prostate), MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 (breast), MCF7, renal TK10, and melanoma UACC62 cell lines in Table 1, contains the bis-glucoside hypoxoside as its principal bioactive compound [48]. Hypoxoside itself is non-toxic but acts as a natural prodrug: upon oral ingestion, it is hydrolysed by intestinal β-glucosidase to release rooperol, a catechol-containing aglycone with potent cytotoxic activity [48]. Rooperol has been demonstrated to induce cell cycle arrest at the late G1/early S-phase transition in HeLa (cervical), HT-29 (colorectal), and MCF-7 (breast) cancer cell lines, associated with increased p21protein levels [48]. Apoptosis was confirmed by caspase-3 and caspase-7 activation, phosphatidylserine translocation (annexin V assay), DNA fragmentation, cell blebbing, and apoptotic body formation [48]. In MCF-7 cells, which lack functional caspase-3, rooperol selectively activated the caspase-7 compensatory pathway. Mechanistic studies further demonstrated that rooperol modulates pAkt and pBcl-2 phosphorylation, positioning it at the PI3K/Akt/Bcl-2 node as a survival pathway disruptor [48].
Taken together, these mechanistic findings across six species documented in Table 1 identify five core mechanisms through which SSA medicinal plants exert anticancer activity: (1) microtubule disruption and mitotic arrest; (2) mitochondrial complex I inhibition and intrinsic apoptosis; (3) modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins and caspase cascades; (4) inhibition of JAK2/STAT3, NF-κB, ERK, and PI3K/Akt survival signalling pathways; and (5) cell cycle arrest at G1/S or G2/M checkpoints mediated by p21 and p53 upregulation. These mechanisms collectively align with recognised hallmarks of cancer and reinforce the pharmacological basis for prioritising the experimental investigation of the many ethnobotanically documented species that remain mechanistically uncharacterised.

4. Discussion

This systematic review brings together ethnobotanical evidence on medicinal plants used for cancer management across sub-Saharan Africa, based on data systematically extracted and summarised in Table 1. Use of PRISMA 2020 guidelines provided a transparent framework for study identification, selection, and synthesis [30]. The findings reflect the continued importance of traditional medicine in cancer care, particularly in settings where access to specialised oncology services remains limited or inconsistent [49,50]. A total of 556 plant species distributed across 110 botanical families were documented across 16 sub-Saharan African countries, representing one of the more comprehensive ethnobotanical compilations of anticancer plant use in the region to date. The breadth of species and families recorded across geographically and ecologically diverse settings underscores the richness of indigenous botanical knowledge systems and their enduring role in community-level cancer management.
The range of medicinal plants documented in this review highlights the depth of traditional medical knowledge across the region. Several plant families, most notably Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Anacardiaceae, and Lamiaceae, were repeatedly reported. Similar patterns have been observed in earlier African ethnopharmacological surveys [51,52]. These families are well known for producing secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, many of which have demonstrated cytotoxic or growth-inhibitory effects in cancer models [53,54]. Among individual species, Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. was the most frequently cited across five independent studies, followed by Annona muricata L., Adansonia digitata L., Carica papaya L., Tamarindus indica L., and Moringa oleifera Lam., each cited in three studies. The recurrence of these species across geographically distinct study populations is particularly noteworthy, as it suggests a degree of cross-cultural consensus regarding their perceived therapeutic value that transcends regional boundaries. Pharmacological investigations have confirmed the cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity of K. africana extracts against multiple cancer cell lines, including melanoma, breast cancer, and renal carcinoma cells [42], while A. muricata has been shown to contain annonaceous acetogenins with potent anticancer activity against breast, prostate, colon, and liver cancer cell lines [39]. Such convergence of independent traditional knowledge systems may strengthen the ethnopharmacological rationale for prioritising these species in future laboratory and clinical investigations.
Reports from West, East, Central, and Southern Africa point to both ecological diversity and long-standing exchange of medicinal knowledge between communities. The strong representation of West African countries may partly reflect greater research activity in these areas, alongside well-established traditions of herbal medicine use [55]. Ghana alone accounted for the largest share of plant-use records (n = 170), with all records derived from studies conducted in the Ashanti Region, suggesting that this community represents a particularly rich repository of ethnomedicinal knowledge that warrants further investigation. The appearance of the same plant species in different countries suggests shared therapeutic knowledge, while species confined to specific regions likely reflect local plant availability and culturally distinct practices. Notably, a substantial geographic imbalance was observed in the distribution of included studies, with Central African countries, island nations of the Indian Ocean, and several Horn of Africa countries entirely absent from the reviewed literature. Given that sub-Saharan Africa comprises 49 countries, the representation of only 16 in this review signals a considerable research gap that cannot be attributed solely to the absence of traditional plant use in unrepresented regions, but more likely reflects limited ethnobotanical research activity and publication in these areas.
Leaves were the most frequently used plant part (41.20%), followed by roots (18.75%) and bark (15.51%). This pattern is consistent with global ethnobotanical observations [56]. Leaves are generally easier to harvest and regenerate quickly, and they are metabolically active tissues rich in secondary metabolites available for extraction via decoction and infusion [57]. Fruits, stems, and bulbs, corms, and tubers collectively accounted for a further 17.25% of documented plant part use, while flowers, whole plant preparations, latex, and rhizomes were less commonly recorded. In contrast, the reliance on roots and bark, particularly from woody species, reflects traditional views of potency but also raises concerns. Harvesting these parts can be destructive and has been associated with reduced plant populations when carried out unsustainably [58]. The considerable proportion of root and bark use documented in this review, together accounting for more than a third of all plant part mentions, therefore warrants particular attention from conservation and sustainable harvesting perspectives, especially for species identified across multiple studies. Conservation and propagation strategies for threatened medicinal plant species are critically needed across the region to ensure their continued availability for both traditional use and scientific investigation [59].
Decoction emerged as the dominant method of preparation (38.23%), followed by powdering and grinding (14.51%), and infusion and tea preparation (9.73%). This approach facilitates extraction of water-soluble constituents and may enhance availability of active compounds [60]. Other preparation methods, including infusions, powders, and topical pastes, were also reported, indicating flexibility in formulation across different communities and ecological settings. Polyherbal remedies were documented in several studies, reflecting traditional practices that combine multiple species within a single preparation. Such combinations are increasingly recognised in phytotherapy research for their potential to produce complementary or additive effects [53,61]. Recent experimental evidence further supports the synergistic anticancer potential of herbal combinations, with multiple studies reporting enhanced cytotoxicity, apoptosis induction, and tumour growth inhibition when herbal preparations are used in combination compared to single-agent formulations [62].
Oral administration was the most commonly reported route (66.88%), suggesting that traditional remedies are primarily intended to act systemically. This observation aligns with findings from other African ethnopharmacological studies [41,54]. Topical application was the second most frequently documented route (26.46%) and was frequently associated with skin cancers and externally visible tumours, allowing for direct contact between plant preparations and affected tissues. Together, oral and topical routes accounted for over 93% of all documented administration modes, with massage, body bathing, nasal administration, and inhalation or smoking constituting the remaining minority. In some cases, remedies were administered both orally and topically, reflecting integrated treatment approaches within traditional medical systems [52,63,64]. The medicinal plants documented were used for a wide range of cancer types, with breast cancer (24.3%), skin cancer and melanoma (19.2%), prostate cancer (10.3%), colorectal cancer (9.2%), and lung cancer (8.1%) most frequently reported, followed by throat and oesophageal, stomach, cervical, brain, leukaemia, and liver cancers. This may partly reflect disease prevalence, but also the visibility of symptoms and the diagnostic frameworks used in traditional medicine [65]. The preponderance of breast and skin cancer records is broadly consistent with the epidemiological burden of these malignancies in sub-Saharan Africa, and with the accessibility of topically applied preparations for surface or visible tumours. The relatively high frequency of prostate cancer documentation, particularly in Ugandan studies, aligns with the prominence of this malignancy among men in East Africa. Several species were reported for multiple cancer types, suggesting perceived broad-spectrum activity. These claims remain largely untested and highlight the need for systematic pharmacological evaluation [54]. Furthermore, the distinct cancer-type profiles observed across different countries with Ghana recording the highest number of skin and breast cancer entries while Uganda showed greater documentation of prostate and cervical cancers, reflect not only regional disease burden differences but also the influence of community-specific healing traditions and the scope of individual studies.
Only a limited number of the documented plants have been investigated experimentally, mainly through in vitro studies. A notable exception was observed in the South African literature, where several plant-use records referenced specific cancer cell lines including MCF-7 (breast), CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR5000 (leukaemia), DU-145 (prostate), and renal TK10 and melanoma UACC62, indicating that some South African studies incorporated pharmacological validation alongside ethnobotanical documentation, a more integrated approach that other sub-regional research communities may benefit from adopting. Most species across the broader dataset, however, remain supported solely by ethnobotanical reports. Similar gaps have been noted in previous reviews of African medicinal plants used in cancer management [12]. The translation of ethnobotanical knowledge into evidence-based therapeutics demands a rigorous pipeline encompassing bioassay-guided fractionation, structure elucidation of active constituents, mechanistic studies in relevant cancer models, and preclinical toxicology [16]. Advancing this field will require carefully designed in vitro and in vivo studies, followed by toxicological assessments and, where appropriate, clinical investigation [51].
The clustering of traditional anticancer use within certain plant families points to clear opportunities for natural product research and lead compound identification [54]. At the same time, the frequent use of roots and bark highlights the importance of conservation, cultivation, and sustainable harvesting strategies. Protecting plant biodiversity is closely linked to preserving the traditional knowledge systems that underpin these practices [66]. The data gaps identified in this review particularly with respect to preparation methods, routes of administration, and geographic coverage further highlight the need for standardised ethnobotanical reporting frameworks and expanded primary research across currently underrepresented sub-Saharan African countries. The establishment of harmonised reporting standards across African ethnobotanical studies would substantially enhance the comparability and utility of future data for pharmacological prioritisation [67].
The toxicity profile and active concentration range of compounds exhibiting anticancer potential in plants are indispensable parameters for drug development. The assumption that plant-derived remedies are inherently safe by virtue of their traditional use is a widely recognised misconception that can have serious clinical implications [13]. For example, vincristine and vinblastine from Catharanthus roseus have been reported to have clinically significant adverse effects. Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) is among the most common and clinically significant adverse effects, affecting sensory, motor, and autonomic nerve function; symptoms can appear within one week of initiation of therapy and may persist for years beyond treatment conclusion [68]. The severity of VIPN is dose-dependent and represents a leading cause of vincristine dose reduction, delay, or discontinuation, which is a particularly important consideration given the central role of this alkaloid in paediatric oncology regimens [68]. These dose-limiting toxicities underline the profound clinical gap between the controlled intravenous administration of purified vinca alkaloids and the unregulated oral and topical preparations of C. roseus documented across South Africa and Uganda in this review. In contrast, Kigelia africana fruit and stem bark extracts have demonstrated a more encouraging profile, with IC50 values ranging near and well below 4–30 µg/mL against multiple cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, and a cytotoxicity profile highly biased toward malignantly transformed rather than normal cells, suggesting specific modulation of defined molecular tumour targets [69]. Similarly, aqueous leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against Jurkat, MCF-7, HepG2, and PNT2 cell lines, with an IC50 of 96.3 µg/mL against Jurkat cells and a selectivity index of 3.567 [70]. Regarding Moringa oleifera, a 13-week repeated oral dosing study in mice demonstrated that the optimised aqueous leaf extract did not affect physiological or haematological parameters at 250 and 500 mg/kg, attributing low or absent toxicity at these doses; however, the highest dose tested of 1000 mg/kg produced elevated transaminases and histopathological changes consistent with hepatic damage, indicating that a safety ceiling exists and that dose selection is critical [71]. The most serious safety concern among the frequently cited species in this review relates to Annona muricata. Its principal bioactive class, the annonaceous acetogenins, has been causally linked to atypical Parkinsonism through chronic dietary exposure; the EFSA risk assessment concluded that substantial uncertainties exist regarding the safe use of A. muricata-based preparations, that data provide strong indications of neurotoxic potential, and that the available evidence does not currently allow for the establishment of a safe intake level [72]. This finding has profound implications for the populations in Ghana, Togo, Uganda, and Ethiopia documented in this review as using A. muricata orally for a range of cancers, and represents a critical safety signal that must be investigated before any clinical translation is pursued. Hypoxis hemerocallidea, cited against DU-145, MCF-7, and renal TK10 cancer cell lines in Table 1, presents a distinct safety challenge through pharmacokinetic interactions. Aqueous corm extracts inhibited CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4/5, as well as P-glycoprotein transport; the authors noted that extract concentrations exceeding the measured IC50 values are achievable in the gastrointestinal tract at traditional doses, meaning that presystemic and potentially systemic inhibition of drug metabolism is a realistic clinical concern [73]. Given the high HIV/AIDS burden across SSA and the documented co-use of this plant with antiretroviral therapy, this interaction profile represents a clinically significant risk in the precise patient populations where the plant is most widely used. Collectively, these findings reinforce that the phytochemical characterisation and bioactivity documentation of SSA anticancer plants must be accompanied by systematic profiling against normal cell lines, rigorous selectivity index determination, and comprehensive in vivo toxicological evaluation before any of these plant-derived agents can be responsibly advanced toward clinical development.
Beyond toxicity, a further consideration of fundamental importance to pharmaceutical research is the phytochemical complexity of the plant materials documented in this review. A single medicinal plant species may contain several hundred structurally distinct secondary metabolites, and the concentration of biologically active constituents is not fixed. It varies substantially with soil composition, climate, altitude, and time of collection [16,74]. The species most frequently cited in this review, including Kigelia africana, Annona muricata, and Moringa oleifera, each contain complex multicomponent phytochemical profiles whose composition shifts across geographic populations and seasons [74,75]. Testing such crude multicomponent preparations, which constitute the majority of the documented traditional medicines in Table 1 is inherently more complex than studying a pure compound, and raw extract IC50 data cannot be directly equated with the activity of any single constituent [53]. Bioassay-guided fractionation, followed by structural elucidation of isolated actives and validation of their concentrations against internationally recognised collection and standardisation frameworks such as the WHO Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) guidelines, is therefore an indispensable prerequisite before any of the plant species documented in this review can be advanced along a rigorous drug development pathway [53,76].
Taken together, the findings presented in this study and the accompanying analyses provide a structured overview of traditional anticancer plant use across sub-Saharan Africa. The patterns identified here offer a practical starting point for future pharmacological work while reinforcing the continued relevance of ethnobotanical knowledge in phytomedicine research. The convergence of species documentation across independent studies, the dominance of a small number of plant families, and the clear regional variations in both species selection and cancer-type focus collectively suggest that this body of traditional knowledge, despite its current fragmentation, holds significant and as yet largely untapped potential for informing the development of novel, accessible, and culturally grounded anticancer therapeutics for sub-Saharan African populations.

5. Conclusions

This systematic review provides a comprehensive synthesis of ethnobotanical evidence on medicinal plants traditionally used for cancer management across sub-Saharan Africa, documenting 556 plant species belonging to 110 botanical families from 16 countries. The findings confirm that traditional plant-based cancer therapy remains deeply embedded in healthcare practices across the region, particularly in communities where access to conventional oncology services is limited. The consistent documentation of the same plant families, notably Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Apocynaceae, and Lamiaceae, across geographically distinct and culturally diverse populations suggests a convergence of indigenous botanical knowledge that lends ethnopharmacological credibility to these plant groups as priority candidates for further scientific investigation. Within these families, species with the highest cross-cultural documentation, including Kigelia africana, Annona muricata, Moringa oleifera, Carica papaya, and Adansonia digitata, represent priority candidates for laboratory investigation, as their repeated independent documentation across unconnected populations provides stronger ethnopharmacological justification than single-study reports. Researchers looking for a clear starting point for extract preparation and bioassay screening should prioritise leaf and bark preparations from these species within the Fabaceae and Asteraceae families, as leaves were the most consistently used plant part and these two families dominated the documented dataset.
However, translating this traditional knowledge into evidence-based medicine is not straightforward. Several important challenges must be addressed before this botanical heritage can deliver its full potential. Firstly, there are significant environmental concerns. The heavy reliance on roots and bark documented in this review is destructive to plant populations when done without control, and several of the most-cited species already face pressures from overharvesting and habitat loss across sub-Saharan Africa. Any research programme targeting these plants must be paired with conservation action including cultivation trials, community-based propagation schemes, and the development of sustainable wild-harvesting protocols. This is to ensure that the plant resources themselves are not depleted in the process of scientific investigation. Secondly, the phytochemical composition of these plants is not fixed: it changes with soil type, rainfall, temperature, altitude, and the time of year at which the plant is collected. This means that results from one study cannot be reliably compared with another unless collection conditions are standardised. Researchers must therefore document and report collection metadata as a basic requirement, and future studies should incorporate multi-site and multi-season phytochemical profiling to understand and manage this natural variability.
Thirdly, and most critically, there are deep scientific data gaps that must be filled. The vast majority of the 556 species documented in this review are supported only by traditional use reports. Experimental evidence, predominantly in vitro cytotoxicity data, exists for only a small minority, and evidence from animal studies or human clinical trials is almost entirely absent. This is the central scientific challenge facing this field. Without systematic pharmacological validation, the ethnobotanical record, however rich, cannot support drug development claims. To begin filling this gap in a structured and efficient way, future studies should follow a clear research pathway. This can start with bioassay-guided fractionation of standardised extracts from the highest-priority species, moving to identification and isolation of the active compound or compounds responsible for the observed cytotoxicity, then determining their selectivity for cancer cells over normal cells, and finally conducting in vivo efficacy and toxicity studies in appropriate animal models before any consideration of human trials. Crude extract testing alone without progression toward compound identification is insufficient to build the scientific foundation that this field needs. The active concentrations of isolated compounds must be reported precisely, as these data are what make results meaningful and comparable across laboratories.
Fourthly, the geographic coverage of this review is uneven. Only 16 of sub-Saharan Africa’s 49 countries are represented in the included studies, and Central Africa is almost entirely absent. This does not mean that traditional cancer plant use is absent in these regions. Rather, it means research has not been done. Expanding primary ethnobotanical surveys to these underrepresented countries is an urgent priority, and such surveys should adopt standardised reporting frameworks to allow future data to be compared and pooled across studies. Alongside this, the indigenous knowledge systems that carry this botanical information must be actively protected. Traditional healers who hold this knowledge are ageing, and in many communities this knowledge is transmitted orally and is at risk of being lost entirely. Preserving traditional knowledge is therefore not only a cultural imperative but a scientific one. Without it, the leads for future drug discovery may be lost before they can even be studied.
In summary, sub-Saharan Africa’s traditional plant knowledge represents a genuinely valuable and largely untapped resource for anticancer drug discovery. Realising the value of these medicinal plants requires more than documenting plant use. It requires addressing environmental sustainability, standardising collection and preparation practices, filling the critical gaps in pharmacological and toxicological data, and giving researchers a clear and prioritised direction for where to begin. The Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Apocynaceae, and Lamiaceae families, and the cross-culturally documented species within them can be considered a starting point.
Future studies should adopt standardised ethnobotanical reporting frameworks, prioritise species with cross-cultural documentation, and work toward integrating validated plant-based therapies into evidence-based oncology practice in sub-Saharan Africa.

Author Contributions

T.L.A.: Writing—Original Draft, Formal Analysis, Data Curation, Investigation, Conceptualization. F.O.-J.: Writing—Original Draft, Formal Analysis, Data Curation; Review and Editing, O.B.O.: Writing—Original Draft, Formal Analysis, Data Curation; Review and Editing; O.A.: Writing—Original Draft, Formal Analysis, Data Curation; Review and Editing; S.O.A.: Conceptualization, Writing—Review and Editing, Supervision. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

The funding from South Africa National Department of Agriculture is gratefully acknowledged.

Data Availability Statement

No new data were created or analysed in this study.

Acknowledgments

TLA gratefully acknowledges the South African NRF Professional Development Programme Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Plants 15 01836 g001
Figure 1. PRISMA 2020 flow diagram showing the systematic search and selection of studies on medicinal plants used for cancer management in sub-Saharan Africa.
Figure 1. PRISMA 2020 flow diagram showing the systematic search and selection of studies on medicinal plants used for cancer management in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Plants 15 01836 g002
Figure 2. Geographical distribution of sub-Saharan African countries reporting traditional anticancer use of medicinal plants (n = 16 countries).
Figure 2. Geographical distribution of sub-Saharan African countries reporting traditional anticancer use of medicinal plants (n = 16 countries).
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Plants 15 01836 g003
Figure 3. Top 10 plant families with the most species used in cancer treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Figure 3. Top 10 plant families with the most species used in cancer treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Figure 4. Distribution of plant parts used in cancer treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Figure 4. Distribution of plant parts used in cancer treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Figure 5. Top 10 cancers most frequently treated by medicinal plants in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Figure 5. Top 10 cancers most frequently treated by medicinal plants in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Table 1. List of medicinal plants traditionally used as anti-cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Table 1. List of medicinal plants traditionally used as anti-cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa.
FamilyScientific NameCommon NameLocal NamePlant Part UsedMode of PreparationMode of AdministrationCancer TypeClaimantRegionReference
AcanthaceaeIsoglossa ciliata (Nees) Engl.NANandwasiLeaves Decoction or bruntOral, topicalProstate, cervical, breast, colon,
lung, GIT, skin, intestinal, uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone		ElgonUganda[23]
Asystasia gangetica (L.) T.Anderson Creeping foxgloveNALeavesDecoctionOralProstateAshantiGhana[26]
Barleria cristata L.Philippine violet, bluebell barleriaNALeavesPoultice StomachAshantiGhana[26]
Dicliptera laxata C.B.ClarkeNANALeaves, stem, barkNAOralColon Kenya[12]
Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) CufodNANAWhole plant TopicalSkinNAEastern and Western Africa[12]
Hypoestes aristata Soland. ex Roem and Schult. var. aristataRibbon bushHlonyane, olukhulu (Zulu)LeavesNANAHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000
leukaemia cells		XhosaSouth Africa[15]
Justica betonica L.White shrimp plant, squirrel’s tailNALeaves, stem, barkNANABreast, colon, skinNAKenya[12]
Justicia extensa T.AndersonSteves’s leavesNAleavesDecoctionOralStomachAshantiGhana[26]
Thunbergia alata Bojer ex Sims Black-eyed Susan NAleavesteaOralStomachAshantiGhana[26]
AlliaceaeAllium sativumGarlicKachuumBulbDecoction or burntOral, topicalCervical, colon, prostate, skinElgonUganda[23]
Allium sativum L.GarlicAiyoFruitsDecoctionOralLung and breastEweTogo[11]
Tulbaghia violacea HarvWild garlic, society garlicUtswelane Leaves, bulbDecoctions Orally OesophagealEastern capeSouth Africa[31]
Amaranthaceae Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R.Br. ex DCDwarf copperleaf, Brazilian spinach Leaves Dressing Stomach AshantiGhana [26]
Amaranthus graecizans L.Mediterranean amaranth Roots Ground rootsNABrain AshantiGhana[26]
Amaranthus hybridus L.Green amaranth, smooth pigweed Leaves Massage Breast AshantiGhana[26]
Amaranthus hybridus L.Green amaranth, smooth pigweedKaratoutouRoot, leavesPowdered Topical, oral Breast and cervix Togo [11]
Amarathus viridis L.Slender amaranthNALeavesWound dressing, decoctionOral, topicalprostate, breast,
brain, stomach		AshantiGhana[26]
Beta vulgaris L.Beetroot NAbulbJuice Oral Blood Kampala Uganda [32]
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & ClemantsMexican tea, wormseedNALeaves, barkGround leaves, decoctionOralBreast, brain, stomach, throatAshantiGhana[26]
Aerva javanica (Burm.f.) Juss. ex SchultKapok bush, dessert cottonTobia Root Powdered rootsOralAll cancerEthiopia Ethiopia[20]
AmaryllidaceaeAgapanthus africanus (L.) HoffmansAfrican lilyNARoots Topical Skin NASouth Africa[12]
Agapanthus africanus (L.) HoffmansAfrican lily, cape agapanthusMathunga Root Dried roots, powdered, infused in waterOral Uterine and
breast		Eastern capeSouth Africa [31]
Allium cepa L.Common onionNAbulbExcipient, groundedTopical Stomach, skin, liverAshanti Ghana [26]
Allium cepa L.Common onionKitungulubulbsMixed with Mangifera indica,
Aloe vera & Bidens pilosa, boiled
drunk (Concoction)		Oral StomachElgon Uganda [23]
Allium
sativum L.		Garlic katungulusumuBulb Chewed or cooked with foodOral Lung Kampala Uganda [32]
Amaryllis belladonna L.Jersey lily, belladonna-lilyMaartblom, maartlelie (Afrikaans)Leaves, flowers, bulbsNAOral Brain Western CapeSouth Africa[12]
Boophone disticha (L.f.) Herb.Poison bulb, sore-eye flowerPerdespook (Afrikaans), motlatsisa (Sotho)Leaves, flowers, bulbsNANABrain Western CapeSouth Africa[12]
Crinum abyssinicum Hochst. ex A.Rich.NAYegibb shinkurtLeaves NANAAll tumourNAEthiopia [20]
Crinum jagus (J.Thomps.) DandySt. Christopher lilyNALeaves, flowers, bulbsNANABrainNANigeria [12]
Crinum stuhlmannii subsp. delagoense (I. Verd.) Kwembeya & Nordal Syn. Crinum delagoense I. Verd.Candy-striped crinumNALeaves, flowers, bulbsNANABrain NASouthern Africa[12]
Tulbaghia violacea Harv.Wild garlic, sweet garlicNABulbs, leavesNANACervicalNASouthern Africa[12]
AnacardiaceaeAnacardium occidentale L.cashewNALeaves, barkDecoction OralLiver AshantiGhana[26]
Cotinus coggygria (Scop)Smoke tree or smoke bushNANANANAHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000NANA[15]
Lannea acida A.Rich.NAKeloRoots Powdered Topical Chronic woundTem Togo [11]
Mangifera indica L.NANABark, leavesdecoction, poultice, teaOral, topicalLung, skin, prostate, lungsAshanti Ghana [26]
Mangifera indica L.MangomangoroleavesDecoctionOral NAMubiAdamawa, Nigeria[33]
Mangifera indica L.Mango Mango Leaves, stem backDecoction Oral Breast, chronic woundKabyè Togo [11]
Mangifera
indica L.		MangoKiyembeLeaves Decoction or burntOral, topicalProstate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, GIT, skin, intestinal, uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone
cancers		Elgon Uganda [23]
Pistacia vera L.Pistachio NAOleum gum resin NANAHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000NASouth Africa[15]
Searsia pyroides (Burch.) Moffett. Syn. Rhus vulgaria MeikleCommon wild currantNALeaves, stemNATopicalStomach, skin, breastNAKenya [12]
Schinus molle L.Californian pepper treeRooioeoerbom (Afrikaans)Leaves and resinNANAHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000NASouth Africa [15]
Anisophylleaceae Anisophyllea dichostyla R.Br.NANARoots NANANANACentral Africa, DRC[12]
Annonaceae Annona muricata L.Soursop NAFruits Oral Stomach AshantiGhana[26]
Annona
muricata L.		Soursop Kitafeeri,
Obwolo		Root, leaves, fruitsDecoction Oral NAKampala Uganda [32]
Annona muricata L.Soursop AgnigliLeaves Decoction Oral Breast, bone, lungEwèTogo [11]
Annona reticulata L.Wild sweetsopNALeaves Tea Oral Stomach, prostateAshantiGhana[26]
Annona senegalensis Pers.Wild custard appleNAFruits, leaves, barkJuice, decoctionOral Stomach, throat, skin, breastAshantiGhana[26]
Annona senegalensis
Pers.		Wild custard appleTchoutchoureRoot, leavesPowdered Topical Bone, chronic woundNATogo [11]
Annonidium mannii (Oliv.) Engl. & DielsJungle sop NAFruits, leaves, and stem barksNAOralLeukaemia, breast, colonNACentral and West Africa[12]
Enantia chlorantha Oliv.Awopa (Yoruba)NAFruits, leaves, and stem barksNAOralSkin NAWest Africa[12]
Pachypodanthium staudtii Engl. & Diels.NANAFruits, leaves. Stem barksNaOralLeukaemia, breast, colon,
Brain, liver		NAEast and West Africa[12]
Uvaria chamea P. Beauv.Bush banana, finger rootNAFruits, leaves, and stem barksNAOralAll typesNANigeria [12]
Xylopia aethiopica
(Dunal) A.Rich.		Grains of selimSoussiFruits Decoction, sauceOral, body bathBone, chronic wound, liver and breastKabyè Togo [11]
ApiaceaeDaucus carota L.Carrots NARoot Eat raw roots regularly; used
with beetroot		Oral Blood Kampala, WakisoUganda[32]
Stegantaenia araliacea HochstCarrot-tree, Musvodzambudzi Bark, roots Decoction, infusion, tinctureOrally Breast, skin, bloodHarare Zimbabwe [24]
Heteromorpha trifoliata (Wendl.) Eckl. & ZeyhCommon parsley treeMhingano, imfenkuluLeaves, bark, rootsInfusion and decoctionOrally Skin, bloodMatebeleland Zimbabwe[24]
ApocynaceaeAcokanthera oppositifolia (Lam.) CoddBushman’s poisoninHlingunyembe (Zulu)Leaves Powdered snuffInhaling Human drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000
leukaemia cells		NASouth Africa[15]
Alafia multiflora (Stapf) StapfAlafia o-kum adada (Twi, Ghana) Leaves and rootsDecoction OralBreast, brain, skin, lungAshantiGhana[26]
Alstonia boonei De Wild.God’s tree Leaves, bark and rootsGround exudates in lemon and decoctionMassage and oralBreast, skinAhantiGhana[26]
Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand.Apple of Sodom, Sodom appleNALeaves DecoctionOralStomach, skinAshantiGhana[26]
Carissa edulis Vahl.Climbing num-num Roots, bark, leavesNANANANANigeria [12]
Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.DonMadagascar periwinkleBegraafplaasblom (Afrikaans)Leaves and whole plantPlant extractorallyBreast, lung
and uterine		Eastern capeSouth Africa [31]
Catharanthus
roseus (L.) G.
Don		Madagascar periwinkleSekagyaFruits NANANANAUganda[32]
Funtumia elastica (Preuss) StapfBush rubber tree, silkrubberNABark, leavesdecoctionOral Skin, throat, stomach, breastAshantiGhana[26]
Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) W.T AitonMilkweed, wild cottonLebegane (Sotho), Umsinga-Iwesalukazi (Zulu)Roots, leaves, fruits and stemsNANAbreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa[12]
Gomphocarpus physocarpus E. Mey.Hairy balls, ballon wildcottonUmsingalwesalukazi (Zulu)Roots NANAbreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa[12]
Holarrhena floribunda (G.Don) T.Durand & SchinzFalse rubber tree, conessi bark NALeaves, barkDecoction Oral Breast, brain, stomachAshantiGhana[26]
Landolphia owariensis P. Beauv.White rubber vine, etaNAClimberAlcoholic extractMassageSkin AshantiGhana[26]
Picralima nitida (Stapf) T. Durand &H. Durand The akuamma, pile plantNAFruits, barkDecoction, teaOral, massageSkin AshantiGhana[26]
Pleiocarpa pycnantha (K. Schum.) StapfNANARootsDecoctionOralBreast AshantiGhana[26]
Plumeria alba L.Caterpillar tree, pigeon woodVentupanierLeaves, stem backDecoction Topical Chronic woundNATogo [11]
Raphionacme hirsuta (E. Mey.) R.A. DyerFalse gentian, khadi-rootIntesma (Xhosa), umathanjana (Zulu)Leaves, flowersNANANSNASouthern Africa[12]
Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel.Poison Devil’s pepper RootsMaceration, decoctionOralGenital, skinAshantiGhana[26]
Rauvolfia
vomitoria Afzel		Poison devil’s-pepperKitondwaniLeaves, roots and stemsDecoction Oral Colon and cervical Elgon Uganda [23]
Saba senegalensis (A. DC) PichonWeda, maddNAStem, climberTeaOralStomach AshantiGhana[26]
Strophanthus gratus (Wall. & Hook.) Baill.Woody lianasNARootsDecoctionOralSkin AshantiGhana[26]
Tabernaemontana crassa Benth.Adam’s apple flowerNALeavesDecoctionOralLungs AshantiGhana[26]
Tabernaemontana stapfina BrittenSoccerball fruits NARoots, leaves, stem barksNANABreast NAKenya [12]
Araceae Colocasia sp.NANALeaves cornMixed with palm oilOralThroat, prostateAshanti Ghana[26]
Colocasia esculenta (L.) SchottTaro NA Poultice and decoctionTopical, oral Skin, breastAshantiGhana[26]
Colocasia esculenta (L.)
Schott		Taro PankaniLeaves Powdered Oral Breast KabyèTogo [11]
Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) SchottCoco yam, elephant earNALeaves Exudate Topical Skin Ashanti Ghana [26]
AraliaceaeCentella asiatica (L.) Urb.Marsh pennywort or pepperwortIcudwane (Zulu) or Varkoortjies (Afrikaans)leavesinfusionOralDU-145 prostate cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cellsNASouth Africa [34]
Cussonia bancoensis Aubrev. & Pellegr.Aky treeNABark Decoction OralBrain AshantiGhana[26]
Cussonia paniculata (Eckl. And Zeyh.)Mountain cabbage treeUmsengembuzi (Zulu)RootsNANAbreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa [12]
Panax ginseng C.A. MeyerAsian ginsengGinsengRoot Decoction Oral LungNATogo [11]
Polyscias fulva (Hiern) HarmsParasol treeNALeaves NANALeukaemia, breast, colon, brain, liver NASub-Sahara Africa[12]
ArecaceaeButia capitata (Mart.)
Becc.		Jelly palmFoda kokoloRoots, fruitsDecoction Oral Breast KabyèTogo [11]
Cocos nucifera L.Coconut treeNARootsDecoction Oral Stomach, lungsAshantiGhana[26]
Elaeis guineensis Jacq.African oil palmNAFruitsExtract Topical Skin, genitalAshanti Ghana [26]
Elaeis guineensis f.
androgyna A. Chev.		African oil palmPawouRoot Decoction Oral, body bathChronic woundKabyèTogo [11]
Eremospatha macrocarpa H. Wendl.Small rattan palmNABark TeaOralSkin AshantiGhana[26]
AsclepiadaceaeCalotropis procera
(Aiton) R.Br.		NAKpakpadjoeRoot, leavesDecoctionOral, topicalBreast and chronic woundKabyèTogo[11]
Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) DecneAnvara YadiyaLeaves Decoction OralNAMubiAdamawa, Nigeria [33]
Periploca nigrescens Afzel.NANAleavesTea Oral Skin, prostate, throat, breastAshantiGhana[26]
AsparagaceaeAsparagus africanus Lam.Wild asparagus, asparagus fernRukato Roots and leaves Decoction, infusionNASkin, prostateMashnaland centralZimbabwe[24]
Asparagus africanusWild asparagusYeset kestRoots NANAUterine,
breast		NAEthiopia [20]
Fusifilum depressum (Baker) U. Mull. -Doblies, J.S.Tang & D.Mull.-DobliesNANALeaves, bulbsNANANSNASouthern Africa [12]
AsphodelaceaeAloe ferox MillBitter aloe, red aloeiNhlaba (Zulu), iKhala (Xhosa)Roots, leavesNANASkin NASouthern Africa[12]
Aloe veraTrue aloeKigadiLeaves Decoction
Burnt & applied on infected skin		Oral, topicalProstate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, skin intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone		Elgon Uganda [23]
Aloe volkensii Engl.NANALeaves, stem barksNANAColon, oesophageal,
prostate		NAKenya [12]
Bulbinella floribunda (Thunb.)
T. Durand &Schinz.		Cat’s tail, yellow cat-tail ChidzinganyokaLeavesNANABreast, prostate, colonBulawayoZimbabwe [24]
AsteraceaeAcanthospermum
hispidum DC.		Goat’s head, hispid starburrLan gbanisoeLeaves Decoction Oral Bone and skinKabyè Togo [11]
Ageratum conyzoides (L.) L.Billygoat weedNALeaves, roots, bark, whole plantsDecoction, paste, crushed fresh leaves for juiceOral and topicalSkin, cervical, throat, breast, lungAshantiGhana [26]
Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd.Wild wormwood, African wormwoodUmhlonyane (isiXhosa)Leaves, stem NANANANASouth Africa[12]
Artemisia
annua L.		Sweet sagewort, annual wormwoodNALeaves Infusion with rock saltOral NANAUganda [32]
Artemisia armeniaca Lam.NANALeaves NANANANASouth Africa[12]
Artemisia indica Willd.Indian wormwoodNALeaves NANANANASouth Africa [12]
Aspilia africana (Pers.) C.D.AdamsWild sunflower, haemorrhage plantNAleavesDecoction OralLungs AshantiGhana[26]
Athrixia elata Sond.Daisy tea bushNALeaves, seedsNANAbreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa [12]
Bacchariodes lasiopus (O. Hoffm.) H.Rob.NANALeaves, stem barkNANAColonNAKenya [12]
Bidens pilosa L.NANAWhole plantTea Oral Breast Ashanti Ghana [26]
Bidens pilosa L.Kyikhamama (Tabululu)NALeaves, stem and rootsBoiled or burntOral, topicalProstate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, GIT, skin, intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone		Elgon Uganda [23]
Bidens pilosa L.Blackjack, Cobbler’s pegUmesis or isikhathula (Zulu)Leaves and stemsInfusionOralDU-145 prostate cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cellsNASouth Africa[34]
Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.RobSiam weed, devil weed, Christmas bushNALeaves Maceration, poultice, decoction, ground leaves in mixtureOral, topicalSkin AshantiGhana[26]
Cnicus benedictus L.Bitter thistleMakdissel (Afrikaans)leavesdecoctionOral DU-145 prostate cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cellsNASouth Africa.[34]
Conyza sumatrensis (Retz.) E. WalkerWhite horseweed, fleabaneNamagoyeLeaves Mixed Dicrocephala integrifolia,
boiled) or
burnt 		Oral, topicalProstate, cervical, breast, colon,
lung, GIT, skin intestinal, uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone		Elgon Uganda [23]
Dicoma anomalaStomach or fever bushUmuna (Zulu), inyongana (Swazi, Xhosa)Leaves and rootsDecoctionOral NANASouth Africa[14]
Dicoma capensis Less.Fever bushKoorsbossie (Afrikaans)Leaves and twigsInfusion Oral DU-145 prostate cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cellsNASouth Africa[34]
Dicrocephala integrifolia (L.f) KuntzeNALunyabakanaLeaves Mixed with Vernonia adonsis
and Mangifera indica, boiled
or burnt 		Oral, topicalProstate, cervical, breast, colon,
lung, GIT, skin, intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone.		Elgon Uganda [23]
Elephantopus mollis Kunth.Tobacco weed, soft, elephant’s footNALeaves NANABrain NACameroon [12]
Elytropappus rhinocerotis (L.f.) Less.Rhinoceros bush or Renosterbos (Afrikaans)Whole plantsInfusion of young branches in wine or brandyOralStomachEastern capeSouth Africa[31]
Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC. Ex DC.Lilac tassel flowerNAWhole plantPaste Oral/topicalStomach, skinAshanti Ghana [26]
Ethulia conyzoides L.f.Blue weedNAWhole plantSqueezed juiceOral Lungs, skin, breastAshanti Ghana [26]
Galinsonga parviflora Cav.Gallant soldier, quickweed, potato weedNALeaves NANAColon NAKenya [12]
Microglossa pyrifolia (Lam.) KuntzeNANALeaves, stemNANANANAKenya [12]
Piptocarpha riedelii (Sch.Bip) BakerAshdaisyNALeaves Decoction Oral Prostate, lungs, liverAshanti Ghana [26]
Senecio glanduloso-pilosus Volkens & Muschl.NANALeaves NANANAFree State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, NorthwestSouthern Africa[12]
Senecio incomptus DC.NANALeavesNANANAEastern CapeSouthern Africa[12]
Solanecio manii (Hook.f.) C. JefferyGynura manniMukono (Rukiga), Kiralankuba (Luganda)Leaves, stem barksNANASkin, breast, colonNAKenya[12]
Solanecio nandensis (S. Moore) C. JeffreyNANALeaves, stem barksNANANSNAKenya [12]
Sonchus oleraceus L.Common sowthistleNALeaves, flowersNANANANASouth Africa [12]
Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl. A. Gray)Mexican sunflowerNALeaves NANAbreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa [12]
Vernonia adoensis
(Sch. Bip. ex Walp.) H.Rob		NAKisola Leaves Mixed with Kigelia africana,
Ananas sativa (Retz) Walker
boiled,
burnt 		Oral, topicalProstate, cervical, breast, colon,
lung, GIT, skin, intestinal, uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone		Elgon Uganda [23]
Xanthium strumarium L.Rough cockleburNAStems NANAbreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa[12]
Zinnia peruviana (L.) L.Peruvian zinnia NALeaves, flowersNAbreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa[12]
Balanophoraceae Sarcophyte sanguinea Sparrm. subsp. sanguineaNAWolwekos (Afrikaans), umavmbuka (isiZulu)Whole plantsDecoction of the whole plantOral NAEastern CapeSouth Africa [31]
BignoniaceaeKigelia africana (Lam.)
Benth.		Sausage treeAbiliou/Tem, Lèmirè/KabyèLeaves, stem backMaceration Body bathBreast Tem, KabyèTogo [11]
Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth.Sausage treeGufungo/KifungoLeaves, roots and stemsMixed with Hydnora abyssinica
A and Hydnora Africana, boiled
or burnt 		Oral/topicalBreast and prostateElgon Uganda [23]
Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth.Sausage treeNALeaves, backGround leaves, decoctionTopical, oralSkin, prostateAshanti Ghana [26]
Kigelia
africana (Lam.)
Benth.		Sausage treeEdodoi, yago,Roots, bulbsCrushed in
water to make
concoction, 1–2
tablespoon
of juice taken twice daily		Oral NATororo/
Mbale		Uganda [32]
Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth.Sausage treeMubveveFruits, leaves, barkNAOral Blood, skinManicalandZimbabwe [24]
Markhamia
lutea (Benth.)
K. Schum.		Nile tulip, siala treeSambya,
Lusambya,
Lusoola		FruitsNANANSNAUganda [32]
Markhamia lutea (Benth.) K. Schum.NANALeaves, Stem
barks		NANAColon NAKenya [12]
Markhamia tomentosa (Benth.) K. Schum. ex EnglSiala Akoko (Yoruba)
Abakansi (Igbo)		Leaves, flowers, stem backsNANACervical NAWest Africa[12]
Newbouldia laevis (P. Beauv.) Seem.Boundary treeNABark, leaves, rootGround leaves, decoction, teaTopical, oralProstate, breast, ovarianAshanti Ghana [26]
Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv.African tulip treeNABark, leavesDecoction Oral Stomach, skin, throatAshanti Ghana [26]
Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. Ex KunthYellow elder, ginger ThomasNALeaves Tea Oral Skin, breastAshanti Ghana [26]
BombacaceaeAdansonia digitata L.African baobabTèlouStem back, fruitsDecoction, powder, sauceTopical, oralChronic wound, breastKabyè Togo [11]
Boraginaceae Cordia millenii BakerCordia wood, drum treeKyeneboa BarkInhalation NasalLungsAshantiGhana[26]
Cordia myxa L.Assyrian plumNALeavesDecoction OralStomach, brain, breastAshantiGhana[26]
Cordia vignei Hutch. & DalzielNANABarkDecoction OralProstate AshantiGhana[26]
Heliotropium indicum L.Indian heliotrope, Indian turnsoleNALeaves Tincture, decoction, maceration, ground leavesOral and topicalSkin, breast,
prostate, stomach,
throat		AshantiGhana[26]
Brassicaceae Sinapis alba L.NANASeeds NANANAAshantiGhana [26]
BromeliaceaeAnanas comosus (L.) Merr.Pineapple NAfruitsJuice, decoction, extractOral Lungs AshantiGhana[26]
Ananas sativus
(Retz) Walker		 NadangaLeaves, roots and stemsBoiled and drunk (decoction)
Mixed with Erythrina abyssinica
Lam., and Mormordica foetida,
boiled & drunk (concoction)		Oral Oesophageal Elgon Uganda [23]
BurseraceaeCanarium
schweinfurthii
Engl.		Bush candle, African oliveMwafu,
Mubafu		Fruits Eaten rawOral NANAUganda [32]
Commiphora africana (A.Rich.) EndlAfrican myrrh Dashi Leaves Decoction OrallyNAMubi Adamawa, Nigeria [33]
Commiphora africana (A.Rich) EndlAfrican myrrh Whole plantSmoking Inhalation lungsAshantiGhana[26]
Boswellia dalzielii Hutch.Frankincense treeHarrabiBarkDecoctionOrally NAMubiAdamawa, Nigeria [33]
CactaceaeOpuntia
species		Prickly pear
cactus		NALeaves Juice squeezed from leavesOral Prostate,
stomach,
colon and
rectum		Kampala Uganda [32]
CalophyllaceaeMammea africana SabineNANABark resin,
stem bark,
roots		taped into shea butter, boil/
ground bark for dressing,
decoction		Oral, topicalCervical, breast, skin, throatAshanti Ghana [26]
CannabaceaeCannabis sativa L.MarijuanaUmya Leaves Leaves are crushedOral Skin Eastern CapeSouth Africa [31]
Cannabis sativa L.MarijuanaMbanjeLeaves, whole plantInfusion, decoction, smoked, chewed or put in teaOralAll cancersHarare Zimbabwe[24]
Celtis africana Burm.f.White stinkwoodumVumvuBark and leavesInfusion in milkOral NAEastern CapeSouth Africa [31]
Caricaceae Carica papaya L.pawpawNALeaves NANACervical, colon, breastNAKenya, Guninea, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana [12]
Carica papaya L. NALeaves, seeds, rootsTea Oral Stomach, skin, breast, prostateAshanti Ghana [26]
Carica papaya L. SombreRoots Powdered Oral Lung Kabye Togo[11]
Euclea
natalensis
A.DC.		 NABulb Decoction Oral Prostate Mukono/
Buikwe		Uganda[32]
CasuarinaceaeCasuarina equisetifolia L.NANABark, kennelNasal dropsNasal Brain Ashanti Ghana [26]
Caesalpiniaceae Afzelia africana Sm. ex Pers.African mahoganyWèrèStem back, rootsPowdered Topical Chronic wound, skin, boneKabyè Togo [11]
Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw.Peacock flowerWayiLeaves Decoction Oral ProstateKabyè Togo [11]
Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch. & DalzielWest African copal treeTchèlèLeaves Sauce Oral lungTem Togo[11]
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) MilneRedhCamel’s foot tree, monkey breadEclo/Ewe,
Babakou/Kabyè		Leaves, rootPowdered, sauceOral, topicalSkin, lung,
chronic
wound,
prostate,
breast		Ewe, KabyèTogo [11]
Tamarindus indica L. NidieFruits Powdered Topical Breast Kabye Togo [11]
Celastraceae Catha edulis (Vahl.) Endl.Bushman’s teaIqgwaka (Xhosa)Leaves, fruits breast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		 South Africa[12]
Gymnosporia
senegalensis (Lam.) Loes.		NATchakatchakaLeaves Decoction Oral and topicalChronic woundKabye Togo [11]
Gymnosporia tenuispina (Sond.) Szyszyl.Bell spike-thornKlokkies-pendoring (Afrikaans)Leaves, fruitsNANAbreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa[12]
Loeseneriella africana (Willd.)African paddle-podNALeaves, stem barksNANAColon, breastNAKenya [12]
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell. (syn. Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes.)Red spike thornNARoots Decoction Oral Prostate Ashanti Ghana [26]
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) ExellRed spike thorn, confetti treeKikonjeLeaves, roots and stemsDecoction Oral Cervical Elgon Uganda [23]
ChrysobalanaceaeParinari curatellifolia
Planch. ex Benth.		 MilioumiliouLeaves, roots and root backSauce, decoction, powderOral, Lung,
chronic
wound,
breast		Tem Togo[11]
ClusiaceaeAllanblackia monticola Staner L.C. Leaves, seeds Leukaemia Cameroon[12]
Garcinia buchananii BakerGranite garcinia, granite mangosteenKikameliLeaves, stemsDecoction Oral Prostate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, GIT, skin intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone
cancers		Elgon Uganda [23]
Garcinia buchananii BakerNAKikameliLeaves and stemDecoction,
mixed with Rinus communis
and Dioscaena fragran		Oral Prostate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, GIT, skin intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone		NAUganda [23]
Garcinia kola HeckelBitter kolaNABarks, roots, leavesDecction, groundOral, topicalSkin, breastAshanti Ghana [26]
Garcinia punctata Oliv.NANALeaves, flowersNANAColon NANA[12]
Hypericum lanceolatum LamWortNALeaves, flowersNANAColon NANA[12]
CochlospermaceaeCochlospermum
planchonii Hook. F.		NATekalichouaRoots Powdered Oral Breast Kabye Togo [11]
CombretaceaeGuiera senegalensis J.F. GmelSabara Sabara leavesDecoctionOralNAMubiAdamawa, Nigeria[33]
Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.) Guill. & PerrAfrican birchKane, akutaRoots TeaOralSkin AshantiGhana[26]
Combretum collinum
Fresen.		Bicoloured bushwillowFokizaoRoots Sauce Oral LungTem Togo [11]
Combretum molle R.Br. ex G.DonVelvet bushwillowNALeaves TeaOralBreastAshantiGhana[26]
Combretum molle G.DonNAKimwanyimwayiLeaves Decoction Oral, topicalSkin, prostate, cervicalElgon Uganda [23]
Combretum kraussi Hochst.Forest bushwilloUlandile (Xhosa)Leaves NANAHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000NASouth Africa[15]
Combretum platypterum (Welw.) Hutch. & DalzielRed wings, dwarf red combretumNABark DecoctionOralSkin, lungsAshantiGhana[26]
Combretum racemosum P.BeauvEnglish Christmas rose, false bougainvilleao-hwiremoLeaves DecoctionOralThroat, breastAshantiGhana[26]
Pteleopsis suberosa Engl. & DielsNASisinonLeaves powderedOral Chronic wound, lungTem Togo [11]
Terminalia catappa L.Indian almond, false kamaniNALeaves, back, fruits root, barkDecoction, tea, nut for oilTopical, oralStomach, skin, breastAshantiGhana[26]
Terminalia ivorensis A.ChevIvory coast almond, black afaraNALeaves, root barkPoultice, decoctionTopical, oralSkin, lungsAshantiGhana[26]
Terminalia superba Engl. & DielsAfrican limba woodOfram Leaves, stem bark, root barkDecoction, ground leavesOralStomach, lungs, prostate, skinAshanti Ghana[26]
Compositae Vernonia amygdalinaBitter leavesgrawaleavesNANAAll cancer Ethiopia [20]
Vernonia hymenolepis A. RichSweet bitter leafgrawaLeaves, stemNANAAll cancer Ethiopia [20]
Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC.NANARoots Ground into powder for
dressing		Topical NAAshantiGhana [26]
Convolvulaceae Ipomoea cairica (L.)Coast morning glory, mile-a-minute vineNALeaves, flowersNANABreast, cervical, skinNAKenya [12]
Cornaceae Curtisia dentata (Burm.f.) C.A.Sm.Assegai UmLahleni, UmGxinaBark, leavesDried bark and leaves are pulverised and infused in milkOral Oesophageal
Eastern CapeSouth Africa[31]
CrassulaceaeBryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) OkenNANALeaves, rootsSqueezed leaves, decoctionTopical, oralSkin, stomachAshanti Ghana [26]
Cotyledon orbiculata spp. oblonga (L.)Pig’s ears, round-leafed navel-wortVarkoor, kouterie (Afrikaans)RootsNANAbreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa [12]
Kalanchoe integra (Medik.) KuntzeNANABark Decoction Oral BreastAshantiGhana[26]
Kalanchoe petitiana A. RichNAIndahula Leaves Decoction Oral Breast, skinNAEthiopia [20]
Kalanchoe paniculata Harv. Hasieoor (Afrikaans), indabulaluvalo (Zulu)RootsNANAbreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa [12]
CucurbitaceaeCucurbita maxima DuchesneNANALeaves Decoction Oral Lungs, headAshanti Ghana [26]
Cucumis prophetarum/ficifoliusWild cucumberYemdir embuayrootsRoots are pulverised and made as pastes or ointmentsTopical Skin NAEthiopia [20]
Momordica angustisepala HarmsNANALeaves Tincture Topical Skin Ashanti Ghana [26]
Momordica charantia L. Bitter melonNAFruits, rootdried ground fruits for dressing
wound, decoction		Topical, oralcervical, breast,
skin, stomach		Ashanti Ghana [26]
Momordica charantia L.Bitter melonKatchalaLeaves Powdered Oral Brain NATogo [11]
Momordica foetida SchumachWild cucumberNALeaves, stem barksNANABreast, cervicalNAKenya [12]
Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) StandlCalabash, bottle gourdQui/kil Leaves Crushed or squeezed for the juiceTopical Cancerous soreNAEthiopia [20]
Cupressaceae Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl.African juniper, Kenya-cedarNALeaves, stem barksNANABreast, throat, oralNAKenya [12]
Curtisiaceae Curtisia dentata (Burm.f.)Assegai tree, Cape lancewoodumLahleni (Zulu, Xhosa)Leaves, stem barksNANAAll typesNASouth Africa[12]
CyperaceaeCyperus rotundus L.NANABulb, nutNAOral Stomach, lungsAshanti Ghana [26]
Dioscoreaceae,Dioscorea alata L.Purple yam, winged yam, water yamNATubersGrounded Topical Skin Ashanti Ghana [26]
Dioscorea bulbifera L.Bitter yam, parsnip yam, air-potatoLiakunyuLeaves and tubersDecoction,
mixed with Dioscaena fragrans
(L.) Ker-Gawl and Cajanus Cajan		Oral Cervical, breast and prostateElgon Uganda [23]
Dioscorea bulbifera L.Bitter yam, parsnip yam, air-potatoNATubers Decoction, pasteOral, topicalSkin, prostate, lungsAshantiGhana[26]
Dioscorea cayennensis LamLagos yamNkaniRoots Plaster with lemon, decoctionOral Brain AshantiGhana[26]
Dioscorea cayennensis subsp. Rotundata (Poir.) J. MiègeYellow yam, Guinea yamNkaniLeaves, rootsBoiled extract, cooked rootsOral Breast, skin,
prostate, liver		AshantiGhana[26]
Dioscorea dumetorum (Kunth) PaxBitter yam, cluster yamNALeavesDecoction Oral Breast AshantiGhana [26]
DracaenaceaeDracaena fragrans (L.) Ker Gawl.Corn plant, striped dracaenaLinziLeaves Decoction Oral Cervical, colonElgon Uganda [23]
Dryopteridaceae Cyrtomium falcatum (L.f.) C.PreslHouse holly-fern Leaves, rootsNANAProstate N/S[12]
Ebenaceae Diospyros whyteana (L.C)Bladdernut, blackbarkumKahze (Zulu)Leaves, flowersNANAbreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		All provincesSouth Africa [12]
Euphorbiaceae Acalypha ciliata Forssk.NAMfofoa, KpandoLeaves Decoction Oral Breast AshantiGhana[26]
Acalypha wilkesiana (Muell.Arg.) Fosberg.Copperleaf, Jacob’s coat NALeaves, stemNANABreast NAWest Africa [12]
Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Mull.Arg.Christmas bushNALeaves, barkDecoction Brain, stomachAshantiGhana[26]
Astraea lobata (L.) Klotzsch (syn. Croton lobatus L.)NANALeavesDecoctionOral, topicalSkin AshantiGhana[26]
Bridelia ferruginea
Benth.		NAKolouRoot Powdered Topical Chronic woundTem Togo [11]
Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) BaillonCoastal golden-leafNALeaves, stem barksNANACervical, skin, breast, colonNAKenya [12]
Croton hirtus L’HerHairy crotonNALeavesDecoction Oral, topicalprostate, skin,
breast, throat		AshantiGhana[26]
Croton macrostachyus Hochst. ex DelileNANALeaves, stem barksNANAColon, skinNAKenya [12]
Elaeophorbia drupifera (Thonn.) Stapf.NANALeaves, stem barksNANALeukaemia, breast, colon,
Brain, liver		NAWest Africa [12]
Euphorbia abyssinica J.F.Gmel.Desert candleKulkuwal Roots, Latex Pulverised rootsTopical Skin NAEthiopia [20]
Euphorbia heterophylla L. Leaves Decoction Topical, oralThroat, prostate,
skin, breast		Ashanti Ghana[26]
Euphorbia hyssopifolia L.Hyssop leaf sandmatNALeavesDecoction Oral, topicalSkin, prostate,
breast, throat		AshantiGhana[26]
Euphorbia hirta L.Asthma-plantNALeavesDecoctionOral/topicalStomach, prostate,
skin, breast, throat		AshantiGhana[26]
Euphorbia ingens E.Mey. ex BoissCommon tree EuphorbiaNkonde Latex Latex Topical Skin Eastern CapeSouth Africa[31]
Euphorbia tirucalli L.Pencil cactus, rubber-hedge euphorbiakinchibRoots, latexPowdered roots NAAll cancerNAEthiopia[20]
Jatropha curcas L.Physic nut, bubble bush, purging nutNALeaves, bark, rotosLeaves mix with oil, ground back to plaster, decoction Oral Skin, breast,
prostate, stomach,
brain		AshantiGhana [26]
Jatropha curcas L. Physic nut, bubble bush, purging nutNASeeds Paste made with seed powder and honeyOral, topicalAll cancerNAEthiopia [20]
Jatropha gossypiifolia L.Bellyache bush, cotton-leaf physic nutNALeaves, roots, barkNANAStomach (liver)AshantiGhana[26]
Margaritaria discoidea (Baill.) Müll.Arg.Bushveld peacock-berryGulumati/KilumatiLeaves, stem barkDecoction Oral, topicalProstate, colon, cervical, breastElgon Uganda [23]
Mallotus oppositifolius (Geiseler) Mll. ArgMallotus Leaves, rootsDecoction, groundTopical, oralGenital, skin,
prostate,
breast, throat		AshantiGhana[26]
Manihot esculenta CrantzCassava NATuber, roots, leavesGrated and squeezed liquid, extract with saltOral, topicalCervical, skin,
genital		Ashanti Ghana[26]
Phyllanthus muellerianus (Kuntze) Exell.NANbirè NbirèRoot Decoction Oral Bone Tem Togo [11]
Ricinus communis L.NAMukakaleLeaves, roots, stemDecoction,
mixed with Entada abyssinica stued & Mangfera indica
Oral Uterus Elgon Uganda [23]
Ricinus communis L.Castor oil plant, castor beanMupfuta Rots, leaves, barkDecoction Orally Blood, colonMashonaland EastZimbabwe [24]
Tragia brevipes Pax Leaves, stem barks Breast, leukaemia Kenya [12]
FabaceaeAbrus precatorius L.Coral bean or crabs’ eyeUmkhokha (Zulu)Leaves decoctionOral NA South Africa[12]
Abrus precatoriusCoral beanAdodobia fadiLeaves Powdered OralLung Tem Togo [11]
Aeschynomene abyssinica (A.Rich.)Joint vetches Leaves, fruitsNANANANAKenya [12]
Albizia adianthifolia (Schum.) W. Wight.Flat-crown albiziaNALeaves NANALeukaemia, breast, brain,
colon		NASub- Saharan Africa[12]
Albizia coriaria
(Welw.) ex Oliver		NAKiluku Root barkDecoction Oral Prostate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, GIT, skin intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone		Elgon Uganda[23]
Albizia
coriaria (Welw.) ex Oliver		NAOmugavu,
Musiita,
Kiluku		Bark Decoction or
ointment		Oral, topicalNANAUganda[32]
Albizia grandibracteata Taub.Silk plantsNALeaves NANABreast, cervicalNAUganda [12]
Albizia gummifera (J. F. Gmel.) C. A. Sm.Peacock flowerNALeaves, fruitsNANAThroat, skinNAKenya [12]
Amphimas pterocarpoides HarmsTropical timbersNALeavesDecoction Oral Head Ashanti Ghana [26]
Andira inermis (W. Wright) Kunth ex DC.NANALeaves NANANANANigeria [12]
Arachis hypogea L.peanutsNALeavesDecoctionOral Skin AshantiGhana[26]
Aspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) R.Dahlgr.Rooibos Inkanga leavesLeaves boiled in waterTaken orally as teaCervical Eastern CapeSouth Africa.[31]
Baphia nitida Lodd.Camwood, barwood, African sandalwoodNALeaves Decoction Orally Breast, skin,
prostate, stomach,
brain, throat		Ashanti Ghana [26]
Burkea africana Hook.Wild seringaUmnondo, mukaratiRoots and stem backDecoction orallyBlood, colonMatebelele landZimbabwe [24]
Caesalpinia benthamiana (Baill.) Herend. & ZarucchiTiger’s clawNALeaves Cold maceration, decoction, wound dressingOrally, topicallyLiver Ashanti Ghana [26]
Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) RoxbGrey nicker, nicker bean, fever nutNARoots NATopically Genital, prostateAshanti Ghana [26]
Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.Pigeon peaZikolimbo Leaves, stem and rootBurnt Topical, applied on infected skinBreast Elgon Uganda [23]
Calliandra portoricensis (Jacq.) Benth.Red powder puffNALeaves NANAProstate NANigeria [12]
Calpurnia aureaCommon calpurniaDegeta Leaves Powdered leaves mixed with waterTopical Neck NAEthiopia [20]
Cassia alata L. Syn. Senna alata (L.) Roxb.Candle bush, ringworm shrubNALeaves NANANANAEast and West Africa[12]
Cassia sieberiana DC.Drumstick treeAridantooro (Yoruba)Leaves NANANANANigeria [12]
Castanospermum australe A. Cunn & C. Fraser ex HookMoreton bay chestnutNALeaves NANAHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000NASouth Africa [15]
Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC.Strongback, sweetheart, wild groundnutNALeaves, stemTea, decoctionOralProstate, breast,
throat, brain		Ashanti Ghana [26]
Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr.sweet detar, tallow treeTauraLeaves, Bark, RootDecoction, InfusionOralNAMubi,Adamawa, Nigeria.[33]
Dialium dinklagei HarmsVelvet tamarind Bark, leavesDecoction Oral Skin Ashanti Ghana [26]
Dialium guineense Willd.Velvet tamarindTsamiyan biriLeavesDecoction and macerationOral NAMubiAdamawa Nigeria[33]
Elephantorrhiza elephantina (Burch.)Eland’s bean, elephant’s rootMupangara (Shona)Leaves NANABreastAll provinces excluding MpumalangaSouthern Africa [12]
Entada abyssinica A.Rich.Splinter beanNABark Decoction Oral Breast AshantiGhana [26]
Entada abyssinica Steudel ex A. RichTree entadaKishembeLeaves, stem & rootsDecoction Oral GIT, prostateElgon Uganda [23]
Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griesb.Devil’s ear tree, monkey-ear treeNALeaves NANALiver NAWest Africa [12]
Erythrina abyssinica Lam. Ex. DCLucky bean, flame treeKitugulu Stem, root backDecoction Eaten raw, drunkCervical, oesophageal Elgon Uganda [23]
Erythrina addisoniae Hutch. & DalzielNANALeaves NANALiver NAWest Africa[12]
Erythrina senegalensis DC.Senegal coral treeNAWhole plantNasal dropsNAHead Ashanti Ghana [26]
Erythrina senegalensis DC.Senegal coral treeGbengben tchikolokaRoot Powdered Topical Throat woundTem Togo [11]
Erythrina sigmoidea HuaNANALeaves NANALeukaemia, breast, colon,
brain, Liver		NACameroon, Chad[12]
Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. &. Perr.)Ordeal tree, sasswoodNALeaves NANABreast, colon, prostate, leukaemiaNANigeria[12]
Griffonia simplicifolia (DC.) Baill.Griffonia Kwakuo-abotoRoots Decoction OralBreast Ashanti Ghana [26]
Mimosa pudica L.Sensitive plant, touch-me-notNALeavesgroundedTopicalBreastAshanti Ghana [26]
Neonotonia wightii (Arn.) J.A. Lackey.Perennial soybeanNALeaves, stem barksNANANANAKenya [12]
Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) G.DonAfrican locust beanNABark, roots, leavesFor massageTopically Breast Ashanti Ghana [26]
Peltophorum sp.Shield-bearingNABark powderNALiver Ashanti Ghana [26]
Pericopsis laxiflora
(Benth. ex Baker) Meeuwen		Satin woodKodoliaLeaves, rootDecoction Oral Bone, chronic woundTem Togo [11]
Prosopis africana (Guill. & Perr.) Taub.Iron treeKiriya leavesDecoction Orally NAMubi, AdamawaNigeria[33]
Pterocarpus erinaceus Poiret.African kino tree, barwoodNALeaves NANANANANigeria [12]
Pterocarpus santaliniodes DC.Red sandalwoodNALeaves Decoction Orally Lungs Ashanti Ghana [26]
Pseudarthria hookeria Wight & ArnVelvet bean, bug-catcherNakikofraLeaves, stem & rootsDecoction Oral and topicalBreast Elgon Uganda [23]
Senna siamea (Lam.) H.
S. Irwin & Barneby		Kassod tree, Siamese cassaZanguerati Leaves Decoction Oral Lung Ewè Togo [11]
Sutherlandia frutescens L. R.Br.Cancer bushUmnweleLeaves, flower and seed.Decoction from all the plant parts.Oral administrationDU-145 prostate cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cellsNASouth Africa [34]
Tamarindus indica L.Tamarind NidièFruits Powdered Topical Breast Kabyè Togo [11]
Tamarindus indica L.Tamarind MukuweFruits Infusion or decoctionOral GIT, prostateElgon Uganda [23]
Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum. & Thonn.) Taub.Aidan fruitsUhio (Igbo)Leaves, fruitsInfusionoralLeukaemiaNANigeria [12]
Gunneraceae Gunnera perpensa L.River pumpkin, wild rhubarbIghobo (Xhosa)Rhizomes Decoction, infusionOral NAEastern capeSouth Africa[31]
GuttiferaeHarungana madagascariensis Lam. ex Poir.Dragon’s blood tree, orange-milk tree Leaves, fruits, stem barkNANAColon, skin, breastNAKenya [12]
Hypericum riparium A.ChevLarge-leaved curry-bush Leaves, flowersNANAGastric NANA[12]
HyacinthaceaeDrimia sphaerocephala BakerRound-head drimiaHlare-sa-noko (Sesotho)Leaves, bulbsNANANAEastern Cape, KwaZulu-NatalSouthern Africa [12]
Eucomis autumnalis (Mill.) Chitt.Pineapple flowerUmathunga BulbsDecoction from warmed bulbsTaken orallyNAEastern capeSouth Africa[31]
Ornithogalum caudatum AitonFalse sea onionAlèwa gabóuBulbs Decoction Body bathBreast Kabyè Togo [11]
Merwilla plumbea [Lindl.] SpetaDwarf blue squillUmasixabane UgontsanaBulbs Decoction from warmed bulbs Taken orallyNAEastern capeSouth Africa[31]
Hydnoraceae Hydnora africana MwoyogwemutakaRoot Decoction,
mixed with Tamarindus indica
and Cajanus Cajan		Oral Prostate, cervicalElgon Uganda [23]
HypoxidaceaeHypoxis argentea Harv. Ex BakerSmall yellow starsInongwe Corms Decoction Orally NAEastern capeSouth Africa [31]
Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch. and C.A. Mey.Yellow starInkomfe, kaffertulpRoot cormInfusion, coked with food and forming into pasteTaken orally and paste is applied topicallyProstateNASouth Africa[35]
Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch. and
C.A. Mey.		Yellow starNACormsInfusion Oral DU-145 prostate cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, testicular tumoursNASouth Africa[34]
Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fish C. A. MeyYellow starMabondi GemukyigonaTuber Decoction Oral, topicalProstate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, GIT, skin intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone
cancers		Elgon Uganda [23]
Hypoxis hemerocallidea (Fisch. & C.A.Mey.)Yellow star NACorms NANABlood Matebeleland north Zimbabwe [24]
Hypoxis obtusa Burch. Ex Ker GawlStar lilyInkomfe (Zulu)Corms NANANAKwaZulu-Natal, LimpopoSouth Africa [12]
Hypoxis rigidula var. pilosissima BakerSilver-leaves, star-flower Leaves, bulbsNANAbreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa [12]
IridaceaeGladiolus quartinianus A. RichParrot-beak gladiolusNAWhole plantNANALeukaemia, breast, colon, brainNACameroon, Senegal, Ethiopia[12]
LamiaceaeClerodendrum capitatum (Wild.) Schumach. & Thonn.NANABark, rootsDecoction, groundOral Breast, skinAshanti Ghana [26]
Fuerstia africana T.C.E.Fr.NANALeaves, stem barksNANAColon NAKenya [12]
Hoslundia opposita VahlOrange bird berry, bird gooseberryNALeaves, rot, sapTea, decoctionOralLungs, brain, skinAshantiGhana[26]
Hyptis pectinata (L.) PoitComb bush mints NABarks, rotsDecoctionOralSkin, breast, brain AshantiGhana[26]
Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br.Wild dagga or lion’s earImunyane, umcwili (Zulu)Whole plantTeaOralHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000
leukaemia cells		 South Africa[15]
Leonotis nepetifolia
(L.) R.Br.		Klip dagga, Christmas candlestickNamusiririLeaves, stem & rootsCrushed and taken raw (infusion)Oral Prostate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, GIT, skin intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone
cancers		Elgon Uganda [23]
Ocimum basilicum L.Basil KonzonzongaLeaves Powdered Topical SkinKabyè Togo [11]
Ocimum gratissimum L.Clove basilNALeavesSqueezed leavesTopicalSkin, breast,
prostate, stomach		AshantiGhana[26]
Ocimum gratissimum L.African basilAzèou/Kabyè;
Estro/Ewè		Leaves Decoction, maceration, powderedOral, nasalLung, brain, breastKabyè, EwèTogo [11]
Ocimum labiatum (N.E.Br.0) A.J. Paton. LC. formerly Orthsiphon labiatusPink sage bush, shell bushPienksalie (Afikaans)Aerial partsNANANANASouthern Africa[12]
Ocimum viride Wild.African basilNAleavesCrushed leaves for washing,TopicalSkin, genitalAshanti Ghana[26]
Orthosiphon serratus (Schltr.) A.J.PatonNAKleinskulphbos NANANAHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000KwaZulu-Natal, MpumalangaSouth Africa[15]
Plectranthus barbatus (Andrews) Benth. Wolly plectranthusNANANANAHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000
leukaemia cells		NASouth Africa[15]
Plectranthus ciliatus E. Mey. ex Benth.Speckled spur-flowerUmsuthuza, lephele-pheleNANANAHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000
leukaemia cells		NASouth Africa[15]
Plectranthus cyaneus GurkeSpur-flowerWobulaka (Tuliguuye)Leaves, stem & rootsCrushed and taken (infusion)
or boiled and drunk (decoction)		Oral, topicalSkin Elgon Uganda [23]
Plectranthus verticillatus (L.f.) Druce.Swedish ivy, gossip spurflowerSkindersalie (Afrikaans)Leaves, stemsNANABreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		 South Africa [12]
Salvia africana L.Blue African sageWildesalie (Afrikaans)Aerial partsNANANSCape provincesSouth Africa[12]
Salvia apiana Jepson White sageNANANANAHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000
leukaemia cells		NASouth Africa[15]
Salvia coccinea Buch’hoz ex Etl.Scarlet sage, blood sageNALeaves, stem barksNANABreast, oesophageal, colonNAKenya [12]
Salvia miltiorrhiza BungeRed sage, redroot sageNAAerial partsNANAProstate NANA[12]
Tetradenia riparia (Hochst.) Codd,Misty plume bush, ginger bushIbozane, iboza (Zulu)Leaves, stemsInfusion oralHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000NASouth Africa[15]
Vitex fischeri
Gurke		NANfulubwa,
Ffulubwa		Leaves DecoctionOralNANAUganda [32]
LauraceaeBeilschmiedia acuta Kosterm.NANABarks, leavesNANALeukaemia, breast, colon, brainNACameroon, Central African Republic[12]
Persea americana Mill.Avocado treePekedoLeaves, seedsDecoction Oral Skin Elgon Uganda [23]
Laurus nobilisBay tree, bay laurelNALeaves NANAHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000
leukaemia cells		NASouth Africa[15]
Liliaceae Gloriosa superba L. Flame lily, climbing lilyEtse lebonaRoots Chewed Oral, topicalBreast NAEthiopia [20]
Loganiaceae Anthocleista schweinfurthi Gilg.NANAStem barks, leavesNANALeukaemia, colon, breastNATropical Africa [12]
Loranthaceae Tapinanthus oleifolius (J.C. Wendl.) DanserNAGui rougeStem Powder Topical Breast NATogo [11]
Malvaceae Adansonia digitata L.African baobabKuka Leaves Decoction oralNAMubi, AdamawaNigeria[33]
Adansonia digitata L.NANABark Decoction Oral Stomach, breastAshanti Ghana [26]
Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) MoenchOkraNAseedsGrounded Topically Skin Ashanti Ghana [26]
Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) MoenchOkraOtigo, BamiaFruits Cooked oralStomach, rectum and
colon		Kampala Uganda [32]
Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott & EndlKola nut, kolaNABark DecoctionOralLungs, skinAshantiGhana[26]
Glyphaea brevis (Spreng.) MonachShortleaf globe mallowDabara LeavesDecoction OralBrain, skinAshantiGhana[26]
Gossypium arboretum L.Tree cottonNALeaves Decoction OralStomach, throatAshantiGhana[26]
Hibiscus cannabinus L.NANALeaves, stems Topical Skin, breastNAWest Africa[12]
Hibiscus sabdariffa L.Roselle NACalyces Decoction Orally All cancerBulawayo Zimbabwe [24]
Hermannia depressaDoll’s rosesSeletjana Leaves, rootsCrushed leavesNANAEastern capeSouth Africa [31]
Malva verticillate L. var. crispa L.Chinese mallow, cluster mallowLut NANANANeck NAEthiopia [20]
Mansonia altissima (A.Chev) A.ChevAfrican walnutNABark, rootsCold maceration, decoctionOrally, massageBreast, skinAshantiGhana[26]
Sida acuta Burm.f.Common wireweedNALeaves, roots, whole plantDecoction, squeezed juice, groundedOral Skin, breast, colorectalAshantiGhana[26]
Sida cordifolia L. Flannel weed, heart-leaf sidaNALeavesDecoction OralLungs AshantiGhana[26]
Sterculia tragacantha LindlGum tragacanthNABarkDecoctionNABreast AshantiGhana[26]
Triplochiton scleroxylon K.SchumAfrican whitewoodwawaStem bark, leaves, root barkDecoction, dressing, ground as lump, squeezed leavesOral, topicalSkin, breastAshantiGhana[26]
Triumfetta cordifolia A. RichCordleaf burbark, burweedNALeaves, stem barkPoultice Topical Skin, breastAshanti Ghana [26]
Meliaceae Azadirachta indica A.JussNeem treeNALeaves, stem bark, root bark, fruitsDecoction, paste, ground bark, ground fruitsOral, topicalSkin, breast, boneAshantiGhana[26]
Azadirachta indica A. Juss.Neem treeKiniStem barkDecoction Oral Chronic woundKabyè Togo [11]
Azadirachta indicaNeem treeMurabaineLeaves, roots and stemsDecoction Oral Prostate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, GIT, skin intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone
cancers		Elgon Uganda [23]
Carapa procera DC.African crabwoodNABarkDecoctionOralBreast AshantiGhana[26]
Ekebergia capensis Sparrman.Cape ash, dogplumNALeaves, stem barksNANASkin, throat, breastNAKenya[12]
Entandrophragma angolense (Welw.)
C.DC		NANABark, roots,
leaves, root
bark		Decoction, teaOral Prostate, skin,
breast, throat,
stomach		Ashanti Ghana [26]
Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sprague) SpragueSapele, sapeli mahoganyNALeaves, barkDecoctionOralLung, skinAshantiGhana[26]
Khaya anthotheca (Welw.) C.DC.East African mahoganyNABarkDecoctionOralBreast, prostateAshantiGhana[26]
Khaya ivorensis A. Chev.Lagos mahoganyNALeaves, stem barkNANANANANigeria, Southern Africa [12]
Khaya senegalensis (Desv.) A.JussAfrican mahogany, khaya woodNABark, rootsDecoction, maceration, tincture, percolate, cream, teaOral, topical, massageStomach, skin,
breast, prostate,
lungs		AshantiGhana[26]
Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss.Senegal mahoganyHemou/Kabyè, Frimou/TemStem back, leavesDecoction, powdered, macerationOral, body bath, nasalChronic wound, skin, brain, boneKabyè, TemTogo [11]
Lovoa
trichilioides
Harms		African walnut, Congo woodMusonkoBark, seeds leaves,Crushed and
applied as an
ointment		OralNANAUganda [32]
Melia azedarach L.Chinaberry, syringa berry treeNALeaves, stem barksNANAColon, oesophagus NAKenya [12]
Pseudocedrela kotschyi (Schweinf.) HarmsNADoutotorèRoot, leavesDecoction, macerationOral, body bathBreast and boneTem Togo [11]
Trichilia emetica Vahl.Natal mahoganyUmkhuhlu (isiXhosa)Leaves, stem barkNANABreast, skin, colon, prostateNATropical Africa [12]
Turraea heterophylla SmHoneysuckle treeNAStem, leaves, roots, fruitsMix with oil, decoction, ground leaves, tinctureOral, massageStomach, prostate,
joint, breast, liver,
throat		AshantiGhana[26]
Melianthaceae Bersama abyssinica Fresen. subsp. abyssinicaWinged bersamaAzamirrStem barkInfusion Oral All cancerNAEthiopia [20]
Melianthus major L.Honey flowerUbutyayiLeaves Decoction Oral NAEastern CapeSouth Africa[31]
Menispermaceae Cissampelos capensis L.Cape moonseed vineUmayisake Root Paste Topical Skin and
stomach		Eastern CapeSouth Africa[31]
Cissampelos mucronata A.Rich.NANALeaves Decoction Oral Skin AshantiGhana [26]
Tiliacora funifera (Miers) Oliv.NANALeaves Decoction Oral Breast, throatAshanti Ghana[26]
MimosaceaeDichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight and Arn.NASozossiRoot Sauce Oral Breast TemTogo [11]
Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R.Br. ex G.DonNASoulouRoot, stem backDecoction Oral, body bathChronic wound and breastKabye Togo [11]
Moraceae Antiaris toxicaria LeschFalse iroko, upas treeNABarkDecoctionOralBreast AshantiGhana[26]
Dorstenia barnimiana Schweinf.NAWorq bemedaRoots, tuberNATopical Visible tumoursNAEthiopia [20]
Ficus asperifolia Miq.NANARoots, bark, leaves, stemDecoction, groundOralSkin, breast, lungAshantiGhana[26]
Ficus dawei HutchNAMuwoBark Decoction Oral BreastMukono/BuikweUganda[32]
Ficus elatica Roxb. Ex HornemRubber figNALeaves, rootsDecoction (root), tea (leaves)OralStomach, prostate, lungAshantiGhana[26]
Ficus exaperata VahlSandpaper tree, white figNALeaves, stem, barkSapTopicalBreastAshantiGhana[26]
Ficus natalensis subsp. leprieurii (Miq.) Hochst. C.C.EBarkcloth figNABarkDecoctionOralBreastAshantiGhana[26]
Ficus
natalensis
Hochst.		Barkcloth figMugaireRoots NANACancerous woundIgangaUganda [32]
Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C.C.BergAfrican teakNABark, leavesGround, decoctionOralSkin, prostateAshantiGhana[26]
Milicia regia (A.Chev.) C.C.BergNAOdumBark, leavesDecoction, teaOralLungs, skin,
stomach, throat,
heart		AshantiGhana[26]
Morus mesozygia LinnaeusAfrican mulberry Leaves NANALeukaemia, breast, colon, liver, brainNATropical Africa[12]
MoringaceaeMoringa oleifera Lam.Moringa Moringa Leaves, roots, seeds Infusion, decoction, powder put in porridgeNAAll cancerMasvingoZimbabwe [24]
Moringa oleifera Lam.Moringa KpadadrèLeaves, stemsPowdered Oral Breast KabyeTogo [11]
Moringa
oleifera Lam.		MoringaNALeaves, root, back, seedsNANAProstate,
lung, colon
and rectal		Kampala Uganda [32]
MusaceaeMusa acuminata CollaDwarf Cavendish ababAkoriNAPowdered Topical Skin, chronic woundKabyè Togo [11]
Musa × paradisiaca L.NANALeaves, rootsMashed leaves, decoctionOral, topicalStomach, throat,
skin, breast		Ashanti Ghana [26]
Myrsinaceae Ardisia kivuensis TatonCoralberry NANALeaves, fruitsNABreast, cervicalNANA[12]
Myrsine africana L. African boxwood, Cape myrtleThakisa, sethakhisa (Sotho)NALeavesNABreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa [12]
Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Warb.NANANABark Powdered, decoctionTopical, oralAshanti Ghana [26]
Rapanea melanophloeos (L.) Mez.Cape beechisiQwane sehlati (Xhosa)NALeaves NABreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa [12]
MyrtaceaePsidium guajava L.Common guava, yellow or apple guavaNANAFruits, bark,
leaves		Topical Stomach, skinAshanti Ghana [26]
Syzygium cumini (L.) SkeelsMalabar plum, java plumJambulaLeaves, roots, stemDecoction, burntOral, topicalProstate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, GIT, skin intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone
cancers		Elgon Uganda [23]
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC.Woodland waterberry Leaves, stem barksNATopical Skin NAKenya [12]
Psidium guajava LCommon guava, yellow or apple guavaLipellaLeaves Mixed with Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) Wild & R.B.Drumm.& Combretum
mole G-don Drumm boiled		Oral Prostate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, GIT, skin intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone
cancers		Elgon Uganda [23]
Nephrolepidaceae Nephrolepsis exaltata (L.) H.W. Schott.Sword fern, Boston fernNALeaves NANAProstate NASouth Africa[12]
NyctaginaceaeBoerhavia diffusa L.NANARoots Decoction Oral Brain, prostateAshanti Ghana [26]
NyssaceaeCamptotheca acuminata Decne.Happy tree, cancer tree Leaves, stem barkNANANANASouthern, Eastern, Western and central Africa[12]
OlaceaeOlax subscorpioidea Oliv.NAIfon (Yoruba), Igbulu/Osaja (Igbo)LeavesNANANANANigeria[12]
Ximenia americana L.Hog plum, tallow woodNALeavesNANANANAEast Africa[12]
Oleaceae Olea capensis L.Small or black ironwoodNALeaves, stem barksNANASkinNAKenya[12]
Olea hochstetteri BakerEast African olive woodNALeaves stem barksNANANANAKenya[12]
Opiliaceae Opilia amentacea Roxb.NAKalibinouRoots Decoction Oral Lung Kabye Togo [11]
Oxalidaceae Oxalis corniculata L.NAKajjampuni,
Kaanhunu		Leaves Ponded, crushedTopical Skin, uterineMukono/
Buikwe,
Iganga		Uganda [32]
Pandaceae Microdesmis puberula Hook.f. ex Planch.NANAFruits Ground fruitsTopical Breast Ashanti Ghana [26]
Papaveraceae Argemone mexicana L. Mexican prickly poppy, flowering thistleNALeaves Decoction Oral Throat, breastAshanti Ghana [26]
Passifloraceae Adenia cissampeloides (Planch. ex Hook) HarmsSnake climberNALeavesDecoctionTopical Lungs AshantiGhana [26]
Adenia lobata (Jacq.) Engl.NANABark, roots, leavesDecoction, groundTopicalBreast, skinAshantiAshanti [26]
Passiflora edulis SimsPassion fruitsNALeaves, fruitsNANALeukaemia Central and East Africa, Cameroon.[12]
PedaliaceaeSesamum indicum L.Sesame GoussiFruits Sauce Oral Breast Ewè Togo [11]
PhyllanthaceaeBridelia micrantha (Hochst.) BailCoastal golden-leafKigakalaLeaves, roots and stemsBoiled & drunk (decoction)
and applied in infected skin		Oral, topicalSkin, prostate, cervicalElgon Uganda [23]
Phyllanthus fischeri PaxNANALeaves, fruits, stem barkNANANANAKenya [12]
Phyllanthus fratenus G. L.WebsterKudu berryNABark Decoction Topical Skin Ashanti Ghana [11]
Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia Pax (Agg)NAMutsonzwa, mukurazviyoLeaves Infusion instilled into affected eyes, decoctionOralEye, skinManica landZimbabwe [24]
Uapaca togoensis PaxNANALeaves, fruits, stem barkNANALeukaemia, breast, colon Tropical Africa[12]
PiperaceaePiper capense L.f.Wild pepper, Ethiopian long pepperNALeaves, fruitsNANALeukaemia, breast, colon Guinea, Ethiopia, South Africa[12]
Piper guineense Schumach. & Thonn.False cubeb, Guinea cubebAtigaliFruits Decoction Oral Chronic woundKabyè Togo [11]
Piper umbellatum L.Cow-foot leafNANANANANAAshanti Ghana [26]
Pittosporaceae Pittosporum viridiflorum SimsCheese wood, white cape beech Umgqwengqwe Bark, rootInfusions Oral NAEastern CapeSouth Africa[31]
PlantaginaceaeScoparia dulcis L.NANARoots, bark,
leaves		Ground roots, decoctionOral, topicalBreast, skinAshanti Ghana [26]
Plumbaginaceae Plumbago zeylanica L.Ceylon plumbagoAmerra Leaves Juice from fresh leavesOral NANAEthiopia [20]
PoaceaeBambusa vulgaris Schrad.Common bambooNALeaves Decoction Oral Stomach Ashanti Ghana [26]
Brachyachne obtusiflora (Benth.) C.E.Hubb.NANARoots NATopical Skin, genitalAshanti Ghana [26]
Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf.Lemon grassNALeaves NANAColon NAKenya [12]
Cymbopogon citratus (DC) StapfNAAkisube,
Kisubi		Leaves Decoction Oral NAPallisaUganda [32]
Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.Indian goosegrass, crowfoot grassAdandalaRoot Powdered Topical Breast Tem Togo [11]
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch.Cogon, cottonwool grassNALeaves NANALeukaemia, breast, colon,
brain		NAWest and East Africa[12]
Zea mays L.CornNACom, grains, leavesGround grains as poulticeTopical Skin Ashanti Ghana[26]
Zea mays L.CornSamirièStem Powdered Oral Lung, chronic woundKabyè Togo[11]
Sporobolus pyramidalis P. Beauv.Cat’s tail grassFaux gazonRoots, fruitsPowdered Topical Breast, chronic woundNATogo [11]
PolygalaceaeSecuridaca sp.Hatchet NABark Cream Topical Breast Ashanti Ghana [26]
Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen.Violet or fibre treeFoziRoot Maceration, powder,Body bath, nasal, topicalBreast, bone, brainTemTogo[11]
Polygonaceae Rumex usambarensis (Engl. ex Dammer)NANankombiLeaves, root, stemsDecoction Oral Prostate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, GIT, skin intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone
cancers		Elgon Uganda [23]
PortulacaceaePortulaca oleracea L.NANARoots, leavesground on stone plaster as
dressing, decoction		Topical, oralProstate, skin,
throat, breast		AshantiGhana [26]
PrimulaceaeMaesa lanceolata Forssk.False assegaiKinywabanjiLeaves, root, stemDecoction Oral Skin Elgon Uganda [23]
RanunculaceaeAconitum napellus L.Aconite, Venus’ chariotNALeaves NANANANASouthern Africa [12]
Knowltonia capensis (L.) HuthBlistering leavesBrandblare (Afrikaans)Leaves Crushed leaves are prepared as poulticeTopical SkinEastern CapeSouth Africa[31]
RhamnaceaeGouania longispicata Engl.NANamayendeyendeLeaves Decoction, burnt leavesOral, topicalSkin Elgon Uganda [23]
RosaceaePrunus africanaThe African cherryNAStem barkDecoctionoral prostateNACameroon, Equatorial Guinea[36]
Prunus africanaThe African cherryTikur enchetRoots NANAAll cancer Ethiopia [20]
Prunus
africana
(Hook.f.)
Kalkman
(Pygeum
africanum)		The African cherryNgwabuzito, Ntaseesa,Leaves, backDecoction Oral Prostate Mukono/
Buikwe,		Uganda[32]
Prunus persica (L.) BatschPeach Mupichisi Seeds, stem barkDecoction and infusionOral Skin Matebeleland NorthZimbabwe [24]
Rubiaceae Bertiera racemosa (G.Don) K.Schum Kakadua Bark, leavesDecoction Oral Breast, skinAshanti Ghana [26]
Coffea arabica L.Arabica coffeeEmwanyiLeaves, fruitsMixed with Mangifera indica and Deinbollia fulva
-fomentalla Bak.f boiled, infusion		Oral Prostate, cervicalElgon Uganda [23]
Corynanthe pachyceras K.Schum NANALeaves TeaOral StomachAshanti Ghana [26]
Crosspteryx febrifuga (Afzel. ex G.Don) Benth.Common crown-berry, crystal-barkNABark Decoction Oral ProstateAshanti Ghana [26]
Fadogia agrestis Schweinf. ex HiernBlack aphrodisiac DjangadjangaRoots Decoction Oral Liver Tem Togo [11]
Gardenia brighamii H. MannForest gardeniaNALeaves NANAHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000NASouth Africa [15]
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn.Powder-bark gardeniaKaorootsDecoction Oral Breast Kabyè Togo [11]
Morinda citrifolia L.Rotten cheese fruitsNoniLeaves Powdered Oral Breast NATogo [11]
Nauclea pobeguinii (Pobeg.) Merr.NANALeaves, fruitsNANALeukaemia, breast, colon, brainNASouth, West and Centra tropical Africa[12]
Nauclea latifolia SmAfrican peachNALeaves, fruitsNANALeukaemia, breast, colonNAWest tropical Africa [12]
Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) BoserBurflower treeKadam Leaves DecoctionOralNAMubiAdamawa, Nigeria[33]
Pachystigma pygmaeum (Schltr.) RobynsDwarf crowned-medlarWitappeltjie (Afrikaans)Leaves Decoction OralHuman drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000NASouth Africa [15]
Pausinystalia yohimbe (K.Schum.) Pierre ex BeilleYohimbe Burantashi Leaves, fruitsNANANANAWest Africa [12]
Pavetta abyssinica Fresen.NANALeavesNANANANAKenya[12]
Psydrax schimperiana (A. Rich)NANALeavesNANANANAKenya[12]
Rubia cordifolia. LinnIndian madderKizambazambeLeaves, root, stemMixed with Ribia cordifera. &
Gouania longispicata Engl. Linn,
boiled 		Oral Lung, skinElgon Uganda [23]
Rubus discolor Weihe & NeesHimalayan blackberryEncheber Roots NANAAll cancerNAEthiopia [20]
Sarcocephalus latifolius (Sm.) E. A. BruceAfrican peachKitchatchalouRoots, stembackPowderedOral, topicalLung, chronic woundTem Togo [11]
Spermacoce princeae (K.Schum.) Verdc.Button-weedNALeaves NANANANAKenya [12]
Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides L.NAKalaoRoot backPowdered, sauceTopical, oralBreast Kabye Togo [11]
RutaceaeAfraegle paniculata
(Schumach.) Engl.		Nigerian powder-flask fruitsNgoneSeed Powder Oral Breast Kabyè Togo [11]
Araliopsis synopsis Engl.NANAStem barksNANAProstateNACameroon [12]
Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm.) SwingleKey lime or acid limeNAFruits, leaves, barkJuice mis with latex of alstonia boonei for plaster, squeezed, boiled barkOral, topical, Breast, skin, throatAshanti Ghana[26]
Citrus limon (L.) OsbeckLemon NAFruitsJuiceOralBreast, prostateAshantiGhana[26]
Citrus limon (L.) Burm. fLemon GnamiFruits Maceration Oral Lung, breastKabyèTogo[11]
Citrus reticulata BlancoMandarin orangeOmuqugwa,
Amacunga		Root NANANAPallisaUganda[32]
Citrus sinensis (L.) OsbeckSweet orangesNAFruits, leavesJuice, decoctionOral, washCervical, brain,
throat, prostate,
stomach		AshantiGhana[26]
Fagaropsis angolensis (Engl.) DaleNAmukuriampunguStem bark, leaves, rootDecoction, boiled, maceration, ash powder, grinded to powder.Chewed or decoction is drunkNAUganda East Africa[37]
Vepris soyauxii (Engl.) MzirayNANALeaves NANALeukaemia, breast, colon, brain, liverNAWest Africa[12]
Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl.Lemon scented knob woodAgodaman, RukutsRoots Pounded and added
water		Oral Cervical Mukono/
Buikwe		Uganda [32]
Zanthoxylum gilleti (De Wild.) P.G.WatermanEast African satinwoodNABark Cold macerationOral Liver Ashanti Ghana[26]
Zanthoxylum usambarense (Engl.).NANALeaves, rootsNANABreast NAEast tropical Africa[12]
Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Lam.) Zepern. & TimlerSenegal prickly-ash, artar rootNAStem bark, root barkDecoction OralStomach, skin,
brain, breast		Ashanti Ghana[26]
Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides L.Artar rootKalaoRoot back Powdered, sauceOral, topicalBreast KabyèTogo [11]
SalicaceaeOncoba spinosa Forssk.Snuff-box treeNABark Decoction Oral Skin Ashanti Ghana [26]
Sideroxylon obtusifolium (Humb. ex Roem.) Penn.NANALeaves, fruitsNAOralProstate Southern Africa[12]
Trimeria grandifolia (Hochst.) Warb.Wild-mulberry, big-leaf trimeria Leaves, fruitsNAOralProstate South Africa[12]
SapindaceaeAllophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.) Radlk.Forest velvet false-currantZipeleleLeaves, root, stemDecoction Oral Lung Elgon Uganda [23]
Blighia sapida K.D.KoenigAckee appleNARoots, bark, leaves, fruits, root barkPoultice, decoction, tea, maceration, raw fruitsOral Lungs, breast,
stomach, colorectal, skin		Ashanti Ghana [26]
Blighia sapida K. D. KoenigAckee appleKpizouLeaves, fruitsDecoction, sauce, powderedOral, topicalChronic wound, lung, skin, breast, brainNATogo [11]
Blighia unijugata BakerTriangle-topsNALeaves Decoction Oral Breast, throatAshanti Ghana[26]
Blighia unijugate BakerNANkuzanyanaBark Decoction Oral Cervical Mukono/
Buikwe		Uganda [32]
Deinbollia fulvotomentella Baker f.NAKifutiFruits, leavesDecoction Oral, topicalProstate, cervical, breast colon,
lung, GIT, skin intestinal uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone		ElgonUganda[23]
Paullinia pinnata L.BarbascoTuantini (Twi)Climbers, stemDecoction, cold macerationOral Stomach, skin, liver,
breast		Ashanti Ghana [26]
Paullinia pinnata L.BarbascoAdji kpizouLeaves, rootDecoction, powderedOral, rootChronic wound, boneKabyè Togo [11]
SapotaceaeSynsepalum cerasifera (Welw.) T.D.Penn.NANALeaves, fruitsNANANA Kenya [12]
Tridesmostemon omphalocarpoides Engl.NANAStem barksNAOral Leukaemia, brain, breast Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, DR Congo[12]
Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn.Shea treeWoussaStem back, rootDecoction, sauceOral Breast, chronic wound, brainTem Togo [11]
Simaroubaceae Brucea antidysenterica J.F. MillNAWaginos/aballoLeaves, twigsPastes using powdered leaves or twigsTopical All cancerNAEthiopia [20]
Harrisonia abyssinica Oliv.NANetu (Nasambu or NefuloLeaves, roots, stemMixed with Gouania longispicat
a Engl. & Lantana trifolia boiled		Oral Prostate, cervical, breast, colon,
lung, GIT, skin, intestinal, uterine,
oesophageal bone & bone		Elgon Uganda [23]
SolanaceaeCapsicum annum L.Paprika, chili pepperNALeavesDecoctionOralThroatNAGhana[26]
Capsicum frutescens L.Wild chili pepperNALeavesDecoctionOralBreastNAGhana[26]
Capsicum frutescens L.Wild chili pepperKamulali,
Kamularu		Fruits As food condimentOral Prostate Mukono/BuikwUganda [32]
Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Tomato NAFruits, leaves, rootExtraction of juice from fruits, ground leaves, boiled rootsOral, topicalThroat, lungs,
prostate, breast,
skin		AshantiGhana [26]
Nicotiana tabacum L.Cultivated tobacco TabaLeaves Decoction Oral Chronic woundKabyè Togo [11]
Physalis angulata L.Ballon cherry, gooseberryNALeaves MassageBreast NAGhana[26]
Physalis angulata L.Hogweed, gooseberryRibomboniStem backPowdered Oral Chronic woundTem Togo [11]
Solanum aculeastrum Dunal subsp. aculeastrumGoat bitter-apple, poison appleItunga, UmthumaFruits and leavesDecoctionOralBreast Eastern capeSouth Africa [31]
Solanum erianthum D. DonMullein nightshade, salvadoraNALeaves NANASkin, lungNANA[12]
Solanum incanum L.thorn apple, bitter tomatoNhundurwaFruits, rots, leavesFruits macerate, infusion and tinctureMacerate applied on affected areaSkin, breast, bloodMasvingo Zimbabwe [24]
Solanum mauritianum Scop.Ear leaf or woolly nightshadeNALeaves NANANANAKenya [12]
Solanum nigrum L.Black or blackberry nightshadeEmbuayzerech embuayLeaves, stems and rootsNANACancerous soresNAEthiopia[20]
Solanum panduriforme E. MeyBitter appleNAWhole plantNANABreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa[12]
Solanum tormentosum L.Snake appleSlangappel (Afrikaans)Stems NANABreast MCF7, renal TK10
and melanoma UACC62		NASouth Africa[12]
Solanum torvum Sw.Turkey berry, devil’s fig susumberNAFruitsTea, soupOralStomach, breastNAGhana[26]
Solanum verbascifolium L.NANALeaves Crushed leavesTopical Skin, genital, breastAshanti Ghana [26]
Withania somnifera (L.) DunalWinter cherryGezawaNANANANANAEthiopia [20]
SterculiaceaeCola nitida (Vent.) Schott & Endl.Kola nutCorooNAPowdered TopicalBreast Tem Togo [11]
Theobroma cacao L.Cacao treeCocooLeaves Decoction Topical Chronic woundKabyè Togo [11]
Waltheria indica L.Sleepy morningFafouloumouRoots Decoction Oral Lung Tem Togo [11]
Taxaceae Taxus baccata L.English or common yewNAFruits, leavesNANABreast, ovarian, lungNASouthern Africa[12]
Taxus brevifolia (Nuttall) PilgerPacific or western yewNAFruits, leavesNANABreast, ovarian, lungNASouthern Africa[12]
Thymelaeaceae Gnidia involucrata Steud. ex A.Rich.NAMejrit, yezingero telbaRoots NAOral Breast NAEthiopia [20]
UrticaceaeUrtica dioica LCommon or stinging nettleNettle Root tuberDecoction, infusionOral Skin Elgon Uganda [23]
VerbenaceaeDuranta erecta L.Golden dewdrop, pigeon berryNALeaves, roots, bark,
Fruits		NANAAll cancerMasholand westZimbabwe [24]
Lantana rugosa (camara) Thunb.Bird’s beerUbuhobe, mubandaLeaves, rootsDecoction Oral Blood, skinMatebeleland SouthZimbabwe[24]
Lantana trifolia L.Ternate lantanaNamusereraLeaves, root, stemDecoctionOral
Cervical ElgonUganda[23]
Stachytarpheta indica (L.) VahlIndia snakeweed, Brazilian teaNALeavesDecoctionOral/topicalBreast, skinAshantiGhana[26]
VitaceaeCyphostemma adenocaule (A. Rich)NANamakajoNAMixed Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fish C. A. Mey. &Ave-Lall
and Psidium guajava boiled		Oral, topicalSkin Elgon Uganda [23]
Cyphostemma serpens (Hochst. ex A.Rich.) Desc. NALeaves NANACervical, skin, breastNAKenya [12]
Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) Wild & R.B.Drumm.Bitter grape, wild grapeNakibondiLeaves, tubersDecoction, infusionOral Prostate, breastElgon Uganda [23]
Xanthorrhoeaceae Aloe ferox MillBitter aloe, red aloeIkhala Leaf sap, leaves, rootsSap topicallySkin Eastern CapeSouth Africa [31]
Ximeniaceae Ximenia caffra Sond.Large sorplumMunhengeni Fruits, roots and seedsInfusion, decoction, chewedOralAll cancerManicaland Zimbabwe[24]
ZingiberaceaeAframomum arundinaceum (Oliv. & G.Hanb.) K.SchumNANALeaves, fruitsNANALeukaemia, breast, brainNAWestern and Central Africa[12]
Aframomum melegueta K.Schum.Pepper coast, melegueta pepperNAFruits, rootPoulticeTopicalBrain, stomachAshantiGhana[26]
Aframomum melegueta
K. Schum.		Pepper coast, melegueta pepperColomboFruits Powdered, decoctionOral, topical, body bathThroat, breast, bone, skin, chronic woundKabyè Togo [11]
Aframomum polyanthum (K.Schum.)NANALeaves, fruitsNANALeukaemia, breast, brainNAWest Africa[12]
Aframomum pruinosum Gagnep.NANALeaves, fruitsNANAskinNAWest Africa [12]
Curcuma longa L.Turmeric NARootInfusion OralNAEastern capeSouth Africa [31]
Curcuma longa L.Turmeric WissikoyèRoot Powdered Oral Breast NATogo [11]
Zingiber officinale RoscoeGingerNARoots, rhizomeGround Oral, massageStomach, brainAshantiGhana[26]
Zingiber officinale RoscoeGingerWissikoeRhizomesPowderedOral Breast KabyèTogo [11]
Zingiber officinale RoscoeGinger NARhizome,
Leaves,		NAOralLeukaemia, cervical, bile ductNATropical Africa, West Africa, Cameroon[12]
Zingiber officinale Roscoe GingerTangawunziRhizome Eaten raw, Mixed with Hypoxidaceae. Hypoxis and Rhoicisuss
tridentata, boiled & drunk
hemerocallidea Fish C. A. Mey.
&Ave-Lall (Concoction)		Oral OesophagealElgon Uganda [23]
Zygophyllaceae Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) DelileEgyptian balsam, soap berry tree NABark NAOral Stomach Ashanti Ghana [26]
NA Information not available.
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MDPI and ACS Style

Adetunji, T.L.; Oyetunde-Joshua, F.; Ogunro, O.B.; Andrew, O.; Amoo, S.O. Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for Cancer Treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review. Plants 2026, 15, 1836. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15121836

AMA Style

Adetunji TL, Oyetunde-Joshua F, Ogunro OB, Andrew O, Amoo SO. Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for Cancer Treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review. Plants. 2026; 15(12):1836. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15121836

Chicago/Turabian Style

Adetunji, Tomi Lois, Funsho Oyetunde-Joshua, Olalekan Bukunmi Ogunro, Olumayowa Andrew, and Stephen O. Amoo. 2026. "Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for Cancer Treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review" Plants 15, no. 12: 1836. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15121836

APA Style

Adetunji, T. L., Oyetunde-Joshua, F., Ogunro, O. B., Andrew, O., & Amoo, S. O. (2026). Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for Cancer Treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review. Plants, 15(12), 1836. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15121836

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