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Plants
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Plants Used in Traditional Medicine, Ethnomedicine and Natural Therapies
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Plants Used in Traditional Medicine, Ethnomedicine and Natural Therapies

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2025 | Viewed by 1841

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tomi Lois Adetunji

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM), Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
Interests: medicinal plants; ethnobotany; phytochemistry; antioxidants; plant nutraceuticals
Prof. Dr. Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centre, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho 2745, NW, South Africa
Interests: indigenous knowledge system (IKS); phytomedicine; conservation; ethnopharmacology; antioxidants; antimicrobial; herbal cosmetics; phytocosmetics; cosmeceuticals; phytochemicals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Oluwafemi Oguntibeju

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Phytomedicine and Phytochemistry Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 1906, Bellville 7535, South Africa
Interests: antioxidants; oxidative stress; phytochemicals; free radical biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite submissions for this Special Issue entitled ‘Plants Used in Traditional Medicine, Ethnomedicine and Natural Therapies’. This call aims to explore the vast potentials of medicinal plants across various cultural and traditional practises, focusing on their ethnobotanical uses, therapeutic applications, pharmacological properties, and biochemical components. Contributions are encouraged from researchers investigating the roles of medicinal plants in disease prevention and treatment, traditional knowledge systems, bioactive compound discovery, and integrative approaches combining traditional and modern medicine.

This Special Issue will foster interdisciplinary perspectives and highlight innovations in ethnomedicine, traditional practises, and evidence-based natural therapies that address global health challenges. Submissions may include original research, reviews, and case studies. We welcome articles on botanical therapeutics for chronic conditions, immune support, pain management, and mental health, reflecting the increasing interest in sustainable and plant-based healing approaches.

Dr. Tomi Lois Adetunji
Prof. Dr. Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu
Prof. Dr. Oluwafemi Oguntibeju
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodiversity
  • botanical therapeutics
  • ethnomedicine
  • medicinal plants
  • pharmacological properties
  • traditional knowledge systems

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

28 pages, 1420 KB  
Review
Ethnoveterinary Potential of Acacia (Vachellia and Senegalia) Species for Managing Livestock Health in Africa: From Traditional Uses to Therapeutic Applications
by Nokwethemba N. P. Msimango, Adeyemi O. Aremu, Stephen O. Amoo and Nqobile A. Masondo
Plants 2025, 14(19), 3107; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193107 - 9 Oct 2025
Viewed by 576
Abstract
In Africa, the folkloric practices involving plant-based remedies play a crucial role in livestock farming, often attributed to the limited access to modern veterinary services. The use of Acacia species (including those reclassified as Vachellia species) in ethnoveterinary medicine has garnered increasing interest [...] Read more.
In Africa, the folkloric practices involving plant-based remedies play a crucial role in livestock farming, often attributed to the limited access to modern veterinary services. The use of Acacia species (including those reclassified as Vachellia species) in ethnoveterinary medicine has garnered increasing interest due to their high protein content and medicinal (including anti-parasitic) properties, offering a sustainable source of fodder particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. However, scientific assessment of their efficacy and safety remains limited. This systematic review examines the ethnoveterinary uses, biological efficacy and safety of Acacia species across Africa. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus, yielding 519 relevant studies published between 2001 and 2024. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 43 eligible studies were analyzed based on their relevance, geographical location and livestock disease applications. Plants of the World online database was used to validate the names of the species and authority. Ethiopia had the highest usage of Acacia species (25%), then Nigeria (20%) followed by both South Africa (15%) and Namibia (15%). Vachellia nilotica (Acacia nilotica) was the most frequently cited species (26.3%), followed by Vachellia karroo (Acacia karroo) (15.8%). Ethnobotanical records indicate that the different Acacia species have been traditionally used to treat conditions such as diarrhea, wound infections and complications such as retained placenta. Pharmacological studies corroborate the therapeutic benefits of Acacia species with evidence of their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anthelmintic effects, though some toxicity concerns exist at high dosages. The systematic review revealed the efficacy and safety (to some extent) of Acacia species in livestock disease management, emphasizing their potential integration into veterinary medicine. However, the dearth of in vivo studies underscores the need for pre-clinical and clinical trials to establish safe and effective dosages for use in livestock. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants Used in Traditional Medicine, Ethnomedicine and Natural Therapies)
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22 pages, 1991 KB  
Review
Therapeutic Potential of Erythrina Genus: Bioactive Phytoconstituents with Potent Antiviral and Antimicrobial Activities
by Muchtaridi Muchtaridi, Samuel Lestyawan, Maitsa Alya Fakhirah, Agus Rusdin, Shela Salsabila, Sandra Megantara, Anas Subarnas and Nur Kusaira Khairul Ikram
Plants 2025, 14(19), 3053; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193053 - 2 Oct 2025
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Abstract
Infectious diseases present a significant global health challenge, further exacerbated by the rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and the limited availability of effective antiviral and antimicrobial agents. The Erythrina genus has garnered scientific interest due to its diverse array of bioactive phytoconstituents, with [...] Read more.
Infectious diseases present a significant global health challenge, further exacerbated by the rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and the limited availability of effective antiviral and antimicrobial agents. The Erythrina genus has garnered scientific interest due to its diverse array of bioactive phytoconstituents, with potential therapeutic relevance. This review aims to synthesize and critically assess the existing literature on the antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiplasmodial properties of Erythrina species. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Relevant studies were identified through keyword searches combining pathogen-specific terms with “Erythrina”. The extracted data were categorized based on the pathogen type and its associated bioactive compounds. Several Erythrina species exhibited substantial antiviral activity against prominent viral pathogens, such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2. Notably, strong antibacterial efficacy was observed against Staphylococcus aureus, including multidrug-resistant strains. Antifungal activity was most pronounced against Candida albicans, while potent antiplasmodial effects were reported against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. These pharmacological effects were predominantly attributed to prenylated flavonoids, isoflavones, pterocarpans, and erythrina-type alkaloids. Further mechanistic studies and in vivo evaluations are essential to fully assess their clinical efficacy and support the development of plant-derived antimicrobial agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants Used in Traditional Medicine, Ethnomedicine and Natural Therapies)
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