International Journal of Food Safety and Public Health

International Journal of Food Safety and Public Health Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-003, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

An ethnobotanical study of plants used for the treatment of diabetes in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

P. Erasto¹, P. O. Adebola², D. S. Grierson¹ and A. J. Afolayan¹*

¹Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa.

²Cultivar Development Division, ARC-Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.

Accepted 10 November, 2019

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is one of the commonest diseases affecting the citizens of both developed and poor countries. In South Africa, the number of people suffering from diabetes is believed to be rising steadily. An ethnobotanical study of plants used by the traditional healers, herbalists and rural dwellers for the treatment of diabetes mellitus was conducted in the Eastern Cape Province. The study revealed 14 plant species belonging to six families namely; Asteraceae, Hypoxidaceae, Apocynaceae, Asphodelaceae, Apiaceae and Buddlejaceae. The use of infusions from plant leaves and roots was the commonest method of herbal preparation. In all cases, the treatment involved drinking the extracts for a long period of time. There was a general belief on the efficacy of the prepared extracts.

Key words: Medicinal plants, traditional medicine, diabetes mellitus.