Medicinal plants used for the management of respiratory diseases in Zimbabwe: Review and perspectives potential management of COVID-19

Respiratory diseases have in the recent past become a health concern globally. More than 523 million cases of coronavirus disease (COVID19), a recent respiratory diseases have been reported, leaving more than 6 million deaths worldwide since the start of the pandemic. In Zimbabwe, respiratory infect...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Physics and chemistry of the earth. Parts A/B/C Vol. 128; p. 103232
Main Authors:	Nyagumbo, Elliot, Pote, William, Shopo, Bridgett, Nyirenda, Trust, Chagonda, Ignatius, Mapaya, Ruvimbo J., Maunganidze, Fabian, Mavengere, William N., Mawere, Cephas, Mutasa, Ian, Kademeteme, Emmanuel, Maroyi, Alfred, Taderera, Tafadzwa, Bhebhe, Michael
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2022
Subjects:	Coronavirus disease 2019 Medicinal plants Pharmacology Respiratory disorders Toxicology Zimbabwe Medicinal plants Respiratory disorders Zimbabwe Toxicology Pharmacology Coronavirus disease 2019
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Summary:	Respiratory diseases have in the recent past become a health concern globally. More than 523 million cases of coronavirus disease (COVID19), a recent respiratory diseases have been reported, leaving more than 6 million deaths worldwide since the start of the pandemic. In Zimbabwe, respiratory infections have largely been managed using traditional (herbal) medicines, due to their low cost and ease of accessibility. This review highlights the plants’ toxicological and pharmacological evaluation studies explored. It seeks to document plants that have been traditionally used in Zimbabwe to treat respiratory ailments within and beyond the past four decades. Extensive literature review based on published papers and abstracts retrieved from the online bibliographic databases, books, book chapters, scientific reports and theses available at Universities in Zimbabwe, were used in this study. From the study, there were at least 58 plant families comprising 160 medicinal plants widely distributed throughout the country. The Fabaceae family had the highest number of medicinal plant species, with a total of 21 species. A total of 12 respiratory ailments were reportedly treatable using the identified plants. From a total of 160 plants, colds were reportedly treatable with 56, pneumonia 53, coughs 34, chest pain and related conditions 29, asthma 25, tuberculosis and spots in lungs 22, unspecified respiratory conditions 20, influenza 13, bronchial problems 12, dyspnoea 7, sore throat and infections 5 and sinus clearing 1 plant. The study identified potential medicinal plants that can be utilised in future to manage respiratory infections. [Display omitted] •One-hundred and sixty plants are used in managing respiratory diseases in Zimbabwe.•Most of the 58 plant families are widely distributed throughout Zimbabwe.•Plants had antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.•Approximately 59% of the plants revealed have been profiled for toxicity.•A total of 56 potential plants require further toxicological and clinical research.
ISSN:	1474-7065 1873-5193
DOI:	10.1016/j.pce.2022.103232