Abstract
The aim of this Study was to document medicinal plants used in the management of HIV and AIDS-related conditions in Mbulu District. An ethnomedical survey was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. The main HIV and AIDS-related conditions considered during this study were; cough, frequent fevers, diarrhea, weight loss, oral thrush, genital warts, candidiasis, abscesses, skin rashes, shingles and venereal diseases. Literature survey was also carried out to compile supplementary data on ethnomedical used and pharmacological activities of the respective plants. Thirty seven plant species from 23 families were reported. The plant families with the highest number of documented species were Acanthaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Compositae and Verbanaceae with three species each. Literature information on the 37 reported plant species showed that, 23 plants could be linked to supporting data on ethnomedical uses, 23 were related to biological activity and 12 had been reported to display varying activities against HIV-1. Sixteen identified medicinal plants recorded new ethnomedical uses related to HIV and AIDS-related conditions, while 8 and 16% of the plant species did not have any previously reported ethnomedical uses or pharmacological activities, respectively. Key words: Medicinal plants, indigenous knowledge, HIV and AIDS-related conditions.
Highlights
The wards were chosen purposively based on the availability of THPs recognized by the coordinators from the office of District Medical Officer (DMO) responsible for handling matters related to THPs
The study reports 37 plant species which are used in the management of various conditions related to HIV/AIDS, of which 12 (32%) are previously reported to have anti-HIV activity, including Balanites aegyptica (L.) Delile, Barleria eranthemoides R.Br. ex C.B.Clarke, Cassia abbreviata subsp. beareana (Holmes) Brenan, Erythrina abyssinica DC, Lippia javanica L, Pappea capensis Eckl & Zeyh, Plectranthus barbatus Andrews, Plumbago zeylanica L, Terminalia sericea Burch. ex DC, Warburgia ugandensis Sprague, Ximenia Americana L and Ximenia caffra Sond (Chothani and Vaghasiya, 2011; Kapewangolo et al, 2013; Leteane et al, 2012; Maregesi et al, 2010; Maroyi, 2014; Mohammed et al, 2012; Mujovo et al, 2008; Mulaudzi et al, 2011; Rukunga et al, 2002; Tshikalange et al, 2008)
Their study revealed that C. abbreviata subsp. beareana (Holmes) Brenan inhibited HIV-1c in a concentration dependent manner but the activity of P. zeylanica L. was linked to its tannin content
Summary
HIV infection is still a disease of public health concern which in 2018 accounted for 770 000 deaths globally (WHO, 2018). Among reported worldwide HIV cases, more than 70% are from Sub Saharan Africa. In Tanzania, the prevalence of HIV is about 5.1% and in 2017 it was estimated that 1.5 million people were living with HIV, 65 000 new infections were reported and a total of 32 000 AIDSrelated deaths occurred (NBS, 2017; WHO, 2018)
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