7 - Toxic Plants Used in African Traditional Medicine

Abstract

Toxic medicinal plants can be defined as any plant that in one or more of its organs contains toxin that can induce adverse side effects in animal/humans upon consumption or administration for therapeutic purposes. The use of plants in African traditional medicine (ATM) is currently not regulated in most countries of the continent, resulting in a serious danger of misadministration of toxic plants. The potential toxic effects following prolonged use of some of the popular medicinal plants are to be scientifically investigated. Of the 120 African medicinal plants screened for their toxic effects and examined in this chapter, 49 of them were potentially toxic. Toxic symptoms mainly included neurological, hepatic, renal, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular signs. The issues related to the use of toxic plants in ATM should now be addressed and taken as a priority in all African countries. This chapter aims: (i) to report toxic or potentially toxic plants used in ATM based on the LD50 values, physical and biochemical changes; (ii) to highlight the advanced in the methods used to detect these toxic plants; (iii) to provide baseline information in order to warn healer and patient on the side effects of some commonly used herbal drugs. Most of the plants mentioned in this chapter are used in ATM for treatment of several diseases in humans and it is essential to be aware of their toxic effects.