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Medicinal Plants of South Africa for High Blood Pressure (HBP)

Teedia plant

In South Africa, there are several indigenous plants and herbs that have been traditionally used to help manage high blood pressure (hypertension). Below is information on plants outlined in the noted research paper focusing on hypertension.

Title: A Review of Plants Used in South African Traditional Medicine for the Management and Treatment of Hypertension
Purpose: This review presents an overview of medicinal plants utilized in South Africa for the management of hypertension, aiming to highlight their pharmacological properties as antihypertensives based on indigenous usage. In addition to discussing the antihypertensive effects of these medicinal plants, this review also examines their phytochemical compositions and explores other ethnopharmacological and therapeutic properties associated with them.

Table 1 South African Medicinal Plants Documented for High Blood Pressure (HBP) Control

NameFamilyCommon name (Zulu/Afrikaans)Plant typePart(s) usedEvidence of documented HBP useEthnobotanical indications on
HBP
References
Achyranthes asperaAmaranthaceaeIsinamaHerbRoots[26]NS[26]
Acokanthera oppositifoliaApocynaceaeinHlungunyembeShrubLeaves, roots stem[24]Maceration[24]
Adenopodia spinataFabaceaeUboboShrubLeaves, roots[26]Maceration[26, 34]
Agapanthus africanusAmaryllidaceaeUbaniHerbLeaves, roots[26]Maceration, infusion[26, 34]
Agathosma betulinaRutaceaeRegteboegoeShrubLeaves, stem[29]Infusion[29]
Agave americanaAsparagaceaeUnknownShrubLeaves[31]Decoction[26, 31, 34]
Albertisia delagoensisMenispermaceaeUmgandagandaShrubRhizome, leaves, stem,
root
[32]Decoction[32]
Alepidea amatymbicaApiaceaeiKhathazoShrubRhizomes, roots[24]NS[24]
Allium sativumAmaryllidaceaeUnknownHerbFlower bud[25, 27]NS[27]
Aloe feroxAsphodelaceaeiNhlabaShrubLeaves/sap[27, 28, 33, 110]NS[33]
Aloe marlothiiAsphodelaceaeinhlaba umhlabaHerbLeaves, roots[32]Decoction[32]
Aloe striatulaAsphodelaceaeUnknownShrubNS[28]NS[28]
Amaranthus dubiusAmaranthaceaeUnknownHerbLeavesFPRMaceration[18]
Amaranthus hybridusAmaranthaceaeUnknownHerbLeavesFPRMaceration[18]
Arachis hypogaeaFabaceaeAmakinatiHerbLeaves, seed[32]Decoction[33]
Artemisia afraAsteraceaeMhlonyaneShrubLeaves[27, 33]Infusion[27, 33]
Asystasia gangeticaAcanthaceaeIsihoboHerbLeavesFPRMaceration[18]
Ballota africanaLamiaceaeKattekruideShrubLeaves[24, 25, 33]Infusion[27, 33]
Cadaba aphyllaBrassiceaeBobbejaanarmShrubLeaves, stem[33]Infusion[33]
Canabis sativaCannabaceaeNsanguHerbLeaves[24, 29–30, 32]Infusion, decoction[29, 32]
Carpobrotus dimidiatusMesembryanthemaceaeIkhambi lamabulawoHerbLeaves, stem, fruit[32]Decoction[32]
Catha edulisCelastraceaeUmhlwaziShrubLeaves[26]Maceration[26, 34]
Catharanthus roseusApocynaceaeUnknownHerb/ sub-shrubRoots, flower, seeds[32]Decoction[32]
Chrysocoma ciliataAsteraceaeKaalsiektebosShrubLeaves, roots[33]Decoction[33]
Cinnamomum camphoraLauraceaeUroselinaTreeGum[24]NS[24]
Cissampelos capensisMenispermaceaeFynblaarklimopShrubRoots[24, 29]Infusion[29]
Citrullus lanatusCurcurbitaceaeBitterwaatlemoenHerbFruit, seed, leaves[32]Decoction[32]
Citrus limonRutaceaeUlamulaShrub/ small treePeel of fruit, pulp, root[32]Decoction[32]
Citrus maximaRutaceaeUpapamuziTreeFruit[32]N/A (taken raw)[32]
Cladostemon kirkiiCapparaceaeumThekwiniShrub/ small treeRoot, stem, bark[32]Maceration, decoction[32]
Clausena anisataRutaceaeUmnukambhibaShrubLeaves, roots[26]Maceration, decoction[26, 34, 65]
Commelina africanaCommelinaceaeIdangabaneHerbWhole plant[26, 30]Decoction (T. capensis)[30]
Commelina benghalensisCommelinaceaeIdangabaneHerbWhole plant[26]Poultice[26]
Convolvulus capensisConvolvulaceaeSkaapklimopShrubBulb[33]Decoction[33]
Conyza scabridaAsteraceaeUmanzimnyamaShrubLeaves[27]Infusion[24, 27]
Crinum macowaniiAmaryllidaceaeUmdubeHerbBulbs, leaves, whole plants[24]NS[24]
Crassula muscosaCrassulaceaeSkoenvetebosHerbLeaves, stem, roots, flowers[33]Decoction[33]
Dicerothamnius rhinocerotisAsteraceaeRanosterbosSmall shrubLeaves, stem[33]NS[33]
Dicoma anomalaAsteraceaeUmunaHerbLeaves, roots[24, 28]NS[24, 28]
Dicoma capensisAsteraceaeKoorsbossieHerbLeaves, twigs, roots[24]NS[24]
Dietes iridioidesIridaceaeisishuphe somfulaHerbLeaves, roots, rhizomes[26]Maceration, infusion[26, 34, 65]
Diosma oppositifoliaRutaceaeBitterboegoeShrubLeaves, stem, flowers[33]NS[33]
Dipcadi brevifoliumHyacinthaceaeIkhakahkhaHerbBulb[26]Decoction[26]
Dombeya rotundifoliaMalvaceaeiNhliziyonkhuluTreeLeaves, roots[26]Maceration[26, 34]
Drimia elataAsparageceaeUndongana- zibomvanaHerbBulb[26]NS[26]
Ekebergia capensisMeliaceaeEssenhoutTreeLeaves, bark[26]NS[26]
Elephantorrhiza elephantinaFabaceaeIntolwaneSub-shrubLeaves, rhizome[26, 29, 30]Infusion[29]
Elytropappus rhinocerotisAsteraceaerenosterbosShrubLeaves[27]Infusion[27]
Eriobotrya įaponicaRosaceaeUnknownShrub/ small treeLeaves[31]Infusion[31]
Eriocephalus africanusAsteraceaeKapokbosShrubLeaves[24, 25, 27, 30]Infusion[27]
Euclea undulataEbenaceaeInkunzaneShrub/ small treeBark, roots, whole plant[24]Infusion[24]
Euryops abrotanifoliusAsteraceaeBergharpuisbosShrubLeaves, stems[33]NS[33]
Galinsoga parvifloraAsteraceaeUnknownHerbLeavesFPRMaceration[18]
Geranium incanumGeraniaceaeVroueteeGrass or small herbLeaves, stem[29]Decoction[29]
Gethyllis sppAmaryllidaceaeKoekoemakrankaN/ASeeds, pod[27]Maceration[27]
Helichrysum crispumAsteraceaeHotnotskooigoedHerbLeaves[25, 27]Infusion[27]
Helichrysum odoratissimumAsteraceaeImphephoHerbLeaves, roots[29]Infusion[29]
Hoodia gordoniiApocynaceaeBobbejaanghaapHerbLeaves, stem[110]NS[110]
Hyphaene coriaceaArecaceaeiLalaTreeRoots[32]NS[32]
Hypoxis argenteaHypoxidaceaeInongweHerbCorm, tuber[32]Decoction[32]
Hypoxis colchicifoliaHypoxidaceaeIlabathekaHerbBulb[29]NS (chewed)[29]
Hypoxis hemerocallideaHypoxidaceaeInkomfeGrasses or small herbCorm, roots[29, 32]Decoction[29, 32]
Justicia flavaAcanthaceaeImpelaHerbLeavesFPRMaceration[18]
Lantana camaraVerbenaceaeUbukhwebezaneShrubRoots[31]Infusion/decoction[31]
Leonotis leonurusLamiaceaeUmfincafincaneShrubLeaves, roots, flowers, whole
plant
[27, 33]Decoction[27, 33]
Lessertia frutescensFabaceaeUmnweleShrubLeaves, shoot[29, 33, 110]Decoction[29]
Leucosidea sericeaRosaceaeUmtshitshiSmall treeNS[28]NS[28]
Lichtensteinia laceraApiaceaeKalmiswortelHerbLeaves, stem[33]Infusion[33]
Lippia įavanicaVerbanaceaeUmsuzwaneShrubLeaves[32]Decoction[32]
Medicago sativaFabaceaeUnknownHerbWhole plant[31]Decoction[28, 31]
Mentha aquaticaLamiaceaeUnknownHerbLeaves, stem, seed[28, 30]Infusion[28, 30]
Mentha longifoliaLamiaceaeufuthana lomhlanagaHerbLeaves, stem[30, 33]Decoction[33]
Mesembryanthe- mum spp.AizoaceaeUnknownN/ALeaves, stem[26]Maceration, decoction[26, 34]
Momordica balsaminaCurcurbitaceaeIntshunguHerbLeaves[32]Decoction[32, 75]
Momordica charantiaCurcurbitaceaeUnknownHerbWhole plantFPRMaceration[75]
Momordica foetidaCurcurbitaceaeIntshunguHerbLeaves, stem[26]NS[26]
Musa acuminataMusaceaeIhliziyoHerbFlower bracts[32]Decoction[32]
Ocimum basilicumLamiaceaeUnknownHerbLeaves, stem[29]Infusion[29]
Oldenlandia affinisRubiaceaeUmampeshaneHerbRoot[26]Decoction[26]
Olea europaea subsp. africanaOleaceaeUmnqumaTreeLeaves, roots[23, 24, 26–29]Decoction[29]
Opuntia ficusCactaceaeUmthelekisiShrub/treeRoots[31]Decoction[31]
Oxygonum sinuatumPolygonaceaeUnknownHerbLeavesFPRMaceration[18]
Ozoroa engleriAnacardiaceaeIsificoTreeRoots, bark, leaves[32]Decoction[111]
Pentanisia prunelloidesRubiaceaeIcimamliloHerbRhizome, corm, roots[24, 26]NS[26]
Persea americanaLauraceaeUnknownTreeLeaf, pulp, fruit, root[31]Decoction[31]
Peucedanum galbanumApiaceaeDroedasShrubLeaves[24]Infusion[24]
Physalis viscosaSolanaceaeUnknownHerbLeavesFPRMaceration[18]
Protorhus longifoliaAnacardiaceaeUzintlwaTreeBark, leaves[26]Maceration[26, 34]
Psidium guaįavaMyrtaceaeKoejawelShrub/ small treeLeaves, roots[31, 32]Decoction[31, 32]
Pyrenacantha kaurabassanaIcacinaceaeUnknownShrubBulb, tuber[32]Decoction[32]
Ptaeroxylon obliquumRutaceaeumThathiTreeRoots[24, 32]Maceration[26, 32]
Rapanea melanophloeosMyrsinaceaeiKhubalwaneTreeBark[26]NS[26]
Rauvolfia caffraApocynaceaeumHlambamanziTreeBark, stem, whole plant[24]NS[24]
Rhoicissus digitataVitaceaeumNangwaziShrubTubers, bulb[29]Infusion[29]
Rhus chirindensisAnacardiaceaeUmhlabamvuduTreeLeaves, roots, bark, twigs, fruits[26]Maceration[34]
Ricinus communisEuphorbiaceaeUmhlakuvaShrubLeaves[32]Decoction[32]
Ruta graveolensRutaceaeUnknownShrubLeaves[24, 25, 27, 29]Infusion[27, 29]
Salvia africana-caerulea LamiaceaeWildesalieShrubTwig, leaves[28, 33]Infusion[33]
Sarcophyte sanguinea BalanophoraceaeUmvumbukaHerbWhole plant, Stem, root [32]Infusion, decoction[32]
Sarcostemma viminale ApocynaceaeUmbelebeleShrub Stem, aerial parts, twigs [32] Infusion[32]
Sceletium tortuosumAizoaceaeTandtrekbosHerbLeaves, roots[33]NS[33]
Schkuhria pinnataAsteraceaeRuhwahwaHerbWhole plant[29]Infusion, decoction[31]
Sclerocarya birreaAnacardiaceaeMaroelaTreeBark, leaves, stem-bark, stem[26]Decoction[26]
Scolopia mundiiSalicaceaeiHlambahlaleTreeBark[26]NS[26]
Searsia burchelliiAnacardiaceaeKarookoeniebosShrub/ small tree Leaves, stem, roots [33]Infusion[33]
Senecio bupleuroides AsteraceaeIsiqandamatshanaShrubNS[26]NS[26]
Senecio inornatusAsteraceaeUhlaboHerb/small shrub Root[26]Decoction[26]
Senecio serratuloides AsteraceaeIchazampukaneHerbLeaves, stem[32]Decoction[32]
Spermacoce natalensis RubiaceaeUmabopheHerbBark, roots, leaves [26]NS[46]
Stangeria eriopusZamiaceaeUmfigwaniCycadRoot, leaves[26]NS[34]
Strychnos madagascariensis StrychnaceaeumKwakwaTreeSeeds, bark, roots, fruit [32]NS (crush to powder for swallowing) [32]
Teedia lucidaScrophulariaceaeHlwenyaHerb/dwarf shrub NS[28]NS[28]
Tephrosia capensisFabaceaeUnknownSmall shrubRoot[26]Decoction[28]
Tetradenia ripariaLamiaceaeIbozaneShrub/treeLeaves, seeds[32]Decoction[32]
Trichilia emeticaMeliaceaeUmathuziniTreeLeaves, fruits, roots, bark, stem[32]Poultice, decoction[32]
Trifolium africanumFabaceaeWildeklawerHerbWhole plant[28, 30]Infusion[30]
Trifolium burchellianum FabaceaeUsithathiHerb Leaf, stem, roots [28, 30] Infusion (combined with M. aquatica) [30]
Tulbaghia acutilobaAlliaceaeIshaladi LezinyokaHerbBulb, flower, Whole plant [28, 30]Infusion, decoction[30]
Tulbaghia violaceaAlliaceaeWilde knoffelHerb Rhizome, bulb, leaves, roots [24, 26–29, 33] Infusion, decoctions [27, 29, 33]
Turraea floribundaMeliaceaeUmadlozaneTreeBark, leaves, roots[26]Infusions[26]
Urtica urensUrticaceaeUnknownHerbLeaves[30]Decoction[30]
Valeriana capensisValerianaceaeWildebalderjanHerbRhizomes, roots[24]NS[24]
Vangueria infaustaRubiaceaeumTulwaShrub/small tree Bark, leaves[32]Maceration, infusion [32]
Warburgia salutarisCanellaceaeIsibhahaTreeBark, root[110]NS[110]

FPR: from pharmacological report; NS: not stated or specified; N/A: not applicable

Reference:

Fatai Oladunni Balogun, Anofi Omotayo Tom Ashafa: A Review of Plants Used in South African Traditional Medicine for the Management and Treatment of Hypertension – Published online: 2018-11-26

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