The ethnobotanical use and potential of southern African Menispermaceae species in combating concurrent tuberculosis and helminth infections

Abstract

Species of the Menispermaceae family have a variety of medicinal uses globally, especially in African traditional medicine. In southern Africa, many Menispermaceae species are widely used for therapeutic purposes. This review is an assessment of the traditional uses, biological, phytochemistry and toxicological effects of the southern African Menispermaceae species investigated from 1980 to 2022 with particular emphasis on the concomitant use of some species for treating helminth infections and tuberculosis. A broad electronic search was conducted using databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, WorldCat Discovery, MSc and Ph.D. theses, Scifindern, Science Direct and Research gate to compile the relevant information used in this study. Cissampelos mucronata and Cocculus hirsutus are the most studied South African species. The Menispermaceae family is a rich source of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, this contributes to its extensive therapeutic efficacy in ethnomedicine. Comprehensive biological, chemical and toxicological as well as pharmacological studies needs to be conducted on the South African Menispermaceae species to verify their traditional uses and the data obtained on species of this family in other regions. In particular, the ability of some species of the family to modulate the immune system with potential effect against immune-related ailments such as parasitic helminth infection, tuberculosis or coinfections with tuberculosis require further research, as this may potentially have an effect on the pathogenesis of tuberculosis in vulnerable populations.

HIGHLIGHTS • The southern African Menispermaceae species have diverse uses in ethnomedicine. • Some pharmacological effects were reported from this family. • The extensive use of Menispermaceae species in ethnomedicine is due to its alkaloidal constituents.