Chapter 4 - Medicinal plants used in South Africa as antibacterial agents for wound healing

Abstract

Wound prevalence in South Africa is a major burden on the healthcare system. A large percentage of South Africans still rely on traditional medicine to treat various diseases, which includes the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of various dermatological disorders. Numerous plants are traditionally used in South Africa for the treatment of wounds, of which several are discussed in this chapter. Literature on in vitro and in vivo wound-healing efficacy of these plants are not well documented; however, there are numerous reports on the antibacterial activity of these plants against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are considered as some of the most prevalent pathogens involved in wound infections. This chapter provides an overview of several plants traditionally used in South Africa for the treatment of wounds and assessing whether these plants have been evaluated for antibacterial activity, in vitro or in vivo wound-healing activity, and potential toxicity. In addition, compounds isolated from these plants have been identified and assessed for their antibacterial and wound-healing activity. This overview emphasizes the lack of research and scientific validation of medicinal plants as antiinfective and wound-healing agents, with emphasis on plants that are used in traditional medicinal practices.