Similar uses in Zimbabwe Reported

(other countries#) reported biological/pharmacologica

Vernacular name Part(s) used and use(s) from literature l activities

1 Fibre: extract drunk to reduce

the duration of menstrual flow
[9]. Roots: root extract used as Menorrhagia [1] and
Mugan’acha eye drops for sore eyes [8] infertility#[1, 10] None found
Roots: extract drunk as
bilharzia (schistomiasis) and
2
diarrhoea [9] and gonorrhoea Gonorrhoea [1] and Antimicrobial activity;
Mutsambatsi medicine [8] bilharzias#, diarrhoea#[11] flavonoids and tannins [12]
Antibacterial [13, 14]; anti-
inflammatory, antifungal,
3 antidiabetic, antioxidant,
Bark: extract drunk as diarrhoea antiviral and antiparasitic
Mumango medicine [8] Diarrhoea and dysentery [13] [14] properties
Antibacterial, anthelmintic
4 Roots: extract drunk as diarrhoea Diarrhoea and venereal diseases [15, 16], antimicrobial [16]
Mubhedha and STIs medicine [8] [1] and cytotoxic [17] activities
Roots: extract drunk as remedy
5 for infertility in women and to Infertility in women and to dilate
Mufokosiana dilate birth canal [8] birth canal [1] None found
Flavonoids, tannins and
triterpenoids; antidiarrhoeal,
antidiabetic, anti-
6 inflammatory, antimicrobial
Roots: steam directed into sore and antioxidant [18]
Mupfura eyes [8] Sore eyes [1] properties
Leaves: leaf sap taken as remedy
7 for ulcers, diarrhoea and stomach
Mubikasadza problems [9] None found Biflavonoids [19]
Roots: extract drunk as cough
8 Mufokosiana medicine [8] None found Biflavonoids [20]
Leaves: extract drunk as
9 Mufokosiana menorrhagia medicine [8] Menorrhagia [1] Antibacterial activity [21]
Roots: paste applied on the boils;
extract drunk as chest pains and
STI remedy; mixed with roots
10 of Securidaca
longipedunculata Fresen. and
sprinkled around homestead as Gonorrhoea, syphilis and snake
Muroro snake repellent [8] repellent [1] Antioxidant activity [22]
Analgesic, antiviral and
11 Roots: extract drunk as cough diuretic activities; lignans and
Muruguru and diarrhoea medicine [8] None found sesquiterpenes [23]
Cough [1, 24], chest pains and Analgesic, antiviral and
12 Roots: extract drunk as diarrhoea pneumonia [1]; and diuretic activities; lignans and
Muruguru and cough medicine [6] tuberculosis#[10] sesquiterpenes [23]
 Alkaloids, flavonoids,
saponins, tannins and
13 Roots: extract drunk as triterpenes; antidiarrheal
remedy for stomach problems Diarrhoea#, dysentery# and [27] and antidiabetic [28]
Chirindamatongo [9, 25] indigestion#[26] activities

14 Roots: extract drunk as diarrhoea

and pneumonia medicine and to Analgesic and anti-
Rukato dilate birth canal [8] Aid in child birth#[29] inflammatory activities [30]
Leaves: leaf sap squeezed into
15 Zvikonje the painful ear [31] Earache#[32] Antibacterial activity [33]

Leaves or rhizomes: leaf or

rhizome sap given to child
suffering from dehydration
[31]. Leaves: Leaf macerate
given to colicky infant; leaves
used as dressing on sprained
ankle [31]. Rhizome: rhizome
16 added to non-alcoholic
beverage taken by pregnant
women to prepare the birth
canal and prevent delivery
complications; warm rhizome
extract given to a person with
aching tooth to keep in mouth
for up to two minutes before
spitting out the mixture Antibacterial, antioxidant
[31]. Roots: extract drunk to [34] and anti-inflammatory
Masavamhanda dilate birth canal [9] Root used as baby food#[10] [12] properties.
Leaves: extract drunk as
17 constipation and gonorrhoea Alkaloids, phenolic compounds
Gavakava medicine [8] Constipation and gonorrhoea [1] and antioxidant capacity [35]
Leaves: leaves chewed and juice
18 swallowed as remedy for ulcers Enema to stop bleeding of the
Mupasa [9] stomach#[36] Antidiabetic activity [28]
Bulb: extract drunk as remedy for Remedy for all disease (panacea)
19 Chifumuro stomach upset [9] [1] Sesquiterpene [37]
Whole plant: extract drunk as Antibacterial [38] and anti-
20
Ruhwahwa remedy for stomach pains [9] Stomach problems#[11] diarrhoeal activity [11]

Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols

21 Leaves: extract drunk as remedy Anti-diarrhoeal# and digestive and saponins; antioxidant and
Rurimirwemombe for stomach problems [9] purgative#[39] antibacterial [39] properties
Roots: extract drunk as STI
22 Mupepe medicine [9] None found Antibacterial activity [40]
 Leaves: leaves chewed and sap
23 swallowed as remedy for
Chizhuzhu abdominal pains [9]
Roots: extract drunk as
24 constipation medicine and teeth
washed with root decoction as
Muchakata remedy for toothache [8]
Bark: extract drunk to reduce
25
birth canal [9]. Fruits: ripe fruits
Mutunduru are eaten as aphrodisiac [9]
Antiplasmodial and anti-
Painful menstruation#[41] inflammatory activities [42]
Antibacterial [13, 43] and
antimicrobial [43] activities;
alkaloids, flavonoids,
Constipation [1] and phenol, saponins, steroids,
toothache#[1, 10] tannins and terpenes [43]
Anthraquinones and
cytotoxicity activity [44, 45],
Aphrodisiac and to reduce birth phenolics, steroids and
canal [1] tannins [46]

26 Fruits: pieces of fruit left around Larvicidal activity and

Muchacha homestead as snake repellent [8] Antifeedant [47] triterpenoids [47]
Roots: root powder taken as a
27 Rufuri remedy for pneumonia [12] None found None found
Roots: extract drunk as remedy Antibacterial activity [48];
28
Musumadombo for infertility in women [8] Infertility in women#[1, 10] lupeol and ursolic acid [49]
Antimicrobial activity;
29 Roots: extract drunk as saponins, steroids, tannins and
Musuma abdominal pains medicine [8] Body and heart pains [1] triterpene [50]
Roots: extract drunk as cough
30 Muvhinji medicine [8] Cough [1] Antibacterial activity [51]
Roots: extract drunk as diarrhoea Diarrhoea [1]; and troubled
31
Mushangura medicine [8] and noisy stamach#[10] Antimicrobial activity [44]
Antibacterial [52],
32 Roots: extract drunk as antimicrobial and antifungal
Musimbiti aphrodisiac [9] None found [53] activities
Anthocyanins, flavonoids
and tannins [54];
33
Roots: extract drunk as remedy antibacterial [54] and
Mutsvoritsvoto for infertility in men [8] Infertility in men [1] antimalarial [55] activities
Roots: extract drunk as cough
34 Mutuzvidzembwa medicine [8] None found None found
Roots: extract drunk as
pneumonia medicine and drunk
Alkaloids, securinine and
before sexual intercourse as a
contraceptive; dried root powder triterpenes; antifungal,
35
applied to bitten part as snake antimalarial, antimicrobial
antidote and root powder applied Contraceptive, pneumonia and and antioxidant activities
Mushagahuwe on wounds [8] snake antidote [1] [56–59]
Roots: extract drunk as
36 Musvosve aphrodisiac[9] Male impotence#[60] Antibacterial activity [60]

Anti-inflammatory,
Roots: teeth washed with root antiarthritic [61, 62], anti-
37
decoction as remedy for oxidant, antiulcer,
toothache [8]. Seed: oil applied Sore eyes [1] and antidiabetic, antifertility and
Mupfuta on sore eyes [8] toothache#[1, 10] antimicrobial [63] properties
 Roots: root powder mixed with Flavonoids and gallotannins
38
porridge as remedy for venereal [64], phenolic and
Munhiti infections [9] None found antioxidant activity [65]
Root: extract drunk as
convulsions remedy [8]; Anti-inflammatory, analgesic
39
aphrodisiac, gonorrhoea and Aphrodisiac, convulsions, [66], antibacterial [67] and
Muvunga syphilis [9] gonorrhoea and syphilis [1] antimicrobial [66] activities
Bark: extract drunk as
constipation remedy
[8]. Leaves: extract drunk as
purgative remedy
40 [8]. Roots: extract drunk as
aphrodisiac, diarrhoea, Aphrodisiac [1, 24],
gonorrhoea and remedy for gonorrhoea, infertility in
Muriranyenze infertility in women [8] women and as purgative [1] Anthelmintic activity [15]
Bark: extract drunk as STI
41 Mupfuti medicine [8] None found Antibacterial activity [13]
Anthraquinones,
Roots: extract drunk as abortion, triterpenoids [68],
42 aphrodisiac, constipation, Abortion, aphrodisiac antibacterial [55],
diarrhoea and gonorrhoea constipation diarrhoea and antimalarial [69] and
Muremberembe medicine [8] gonorrhoea [1] antiviral [70] activities
Leaves: dried leaves smoked as Bronchitis# and inflammation in
43 Mugwiti cigarette to treat asthma [9] throat#[71] Antimicrobial activity [72]
Roots: extract drunk as
abdominal pains, diarrhoea and
gonorrhoea medicine; and mixed
44 with roots of Piliostigma
thonningii (Schumach.) Milne- Abdominal pains [1, 24],
Redh. as bilharzia bilharzias, diarrhoea and Anthelmintic activity [15]
Ntorani (schistosomiasis) medicine [8] gonorrhoea [1] and stilbenes [73]
Bark: extract drunk as backache Antibacterial [74, 75],
45 medicine [8]. Roots: wounds Backache and wounds in mouth antifungal [74] and cytotoxic
Mutiti washed with root extract [8] [1] activities [76]
Roots: extract drunk as diarrhoea
46 Ruvavashuro medicine [9] None found None found
Bark, leaves or root: extract
drunk as syphilis medicine
[8]. Roots: extract drunk as
diarrhoea and STI medicine, root
47 extract used as eye drops for sore
eyes and teeth washed with root Diarrhoea and toothache [1],
decoction as remedy for panacea [24] and venereal
Muzeze toothache [8] diseases#[1, 10] Antibacterial activity [52, 77]
 Bark, leaves or root: extract
drunk as cough medicine
[8]. Leaves:extract drunk as
menorrhagia medicine
48 [8]. Roots: mixed with roots
of Elephantorrhiza goetzei as
bilharzia (schistosomiasis)
Musekesa medicine [8]
Bark: extract dropped into ear as
earache medicine, extract drunk
as remedy for menorrhagia
49 [8]. Roots: extract drunk as
remedy for infertility in women
[8]. Sap: dropped into sore eyes
Mubvamaropa [8]
50 Leaves: leaves browsed by mouth
Munhunguru as diarrhoea medicine [8]
Bulb: bulb chewed and sap
51 swallowed as remedy for
Nhindiri abdominal pains [9]
Cough and menorrhagia [1]
Infertility in women and sore
eyes [1]; and
menorrhagia#[1, 10]
Diarrhoea [1]
Abdominal pains [1]
Alkaloids, flavonoids,
saponins and tannins;
antibacterial [16],
antimicrobial and
antioxidant [78] activities
Antibacterial and cytotoxicity
activities [79]
Antibacterial, anti-
inflammatory, antimicrobial,
antioxidant and antimalarial
activities [80]
Hypoxoside [81] and
obtusaside [82]

Bark: extract drunk as

diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery
and constipation medicine
52 [9]. Fruits: fruit juice applied to
bitten part as snake antidote
and fruit juice applied on
Mubvumira wounds [8] Diarrhoea and wounds [1] Antibacterial activity [61]
Alkaloids, flavonoids,
saponins, tannins and
53
Leaves: extract dropped into eyes triterpenes [83, 84] and
Hwahwa hwe shiri as cataract medicine [8] Cataract [1] antimicrobial activity [85]
Leaves: leaves chewed and sap Anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic
54 swallowed as remedy for ulcers and hepatoprotective
Mutodzvo [9] Sores# and haemorrhoids#[84] activities [86]
Leaves: leaves burnt and
55 smoke inhaled as cough
Mutsvubvu medicine [8, 9] None found Larvicidal activity [87]
Roots: extract drunk as
abdominal pains, aphrodisiac,
56 gonorrhoea, infertility in men and Abdominal pains and infertility
Muzumwi sore throat remedy [8] [1] Antimalarial activity [88]
Roots: extract used as eye drops
57 Mukwakwa for sore eyes [8] None found None found
Roots: extract drunk as
remedy for abdominal pains
and gonorrhoea
58
[8]. Fruits: extract drunk as
remedy for gonorrhoea and
Mutamba genital warts [9] Abdominal pains [1] Sterols and triterpenoids [89]
 Roots: extract dropped into the
59 Mutohwe ear as medicine for earache [8]
Bark: extract drunk as remedy for
infertility in men
60 [8]. Roots: extract drunk as
Mudyavarungu dysmenorrhea medicine [8]
Fruits: burnt fruit peels mixed
61 with vaseline and applied to area
Mubanana affected with genital warts [9]
Roots: extract drunk as cough
62 Mushavhi medicine [8]
63
Roots: extract drunk as diarrhoea
Muonde and syphilis medicine [8]
64 Roots: extract drunk as cough
Muonde medicine [8]
Leaves: extract drunk as
diarrhoea medicine
65 [8]. Roots: teeth washed with
root decoction as remedy for
Moringa toothache [8]
66
Leaves and twigs: leaves and
twigs boiled and drunk as remedy Cold# and other chest
Rufandichimuka for cold [9] complaints#[1, 10]
Leaves: extract drunk with Citrus
67 limon fruits and Psidium
guajava L. leaves as cough, flu
Mugamutiri and fever medicine [8]
Leaves: extract drunk
with Citrus limon fruits
and Eucalyptus
68 camaldulensis leaves as cough,
flu and fever medicine [8];
infusion of drunk or taken as Fever [1]; cough#[1, 11, 85]
Mugwavha an enema for diarrhoea [9]
Bark: extract drunk as
69
Mukute tuberculosis medicine [9]
70 Leaves: leaf sap taken as remedy
Munimu for stomach problems [9] Diarrhoea [1]
Leaves: extract drunk as
71
Mutengeni backache medicine [8]
Earache#[90]
Dysmenorrhea and infertility in
men [1]
None found
Fever#[94]
Diarrhoea in infants [1]
Tuberculosis#, cold# and other
chest problems#[10]
Digestive disorders [100]
Sore throat#[105]
and diarrhoea#[11, 85]
Cold# and fever#[10]
Abdominal pains#[114]
Antimalarial activity [69]
Stilbenes [91] and
triperpenes [92]
Limonoids [93]
Anti-inflammatory and
analgesic properties [95]
Antibacterial, anti-
inflammatory, antimalarial
and anti-ulcer activities
[96, 97]
Antibacterial activity [98],
alkaloids, saponins and
tannins [99]
Alkaloids and flavonoids, anti-
inflammatory, antioxidant,
antimicrobial, antifertility and
anticancer [101] activities
Alkaloids, flavanoids,
phenolics, saponins, steroids
and tannins [102],
antidiabetic [103] and
antimicrobial [104] activities
Antiproliferative [106] and
antimicrobial [107] activities
Anti-diarrhoeal [108, 109],
antibacterial [110, 111],
narcotic [109] and
antioxidant [112] properties
Antibacterial [52] and
antifungal [64] activities
Antibacterial activity [113]
Antibacterial [64] and
antioxidant [114] activities
 Leaves: extract drunk as
backache medicine
[8]. Roots: extract drunk as
72 aphrodisiac, diarrhoea, venereal
diseases; root powder applied on
Munhengeni wounds [8]
Whole plant: plant foam inserted
73 into vagina to dilate birth canal
Ruredzo [9]
Roots: extract drunk as epilepsy
medicine and mixed with roots
of Annona stenophylla and
74
sprinkled around homestead as
Mufufu snake repellent [8]
Leaves and roots: leaves and
75 roots burnt and smoke inhaled as
Mudziwebwe remedy for chest pains [9]
Roots: extract drunk as
76
Nyii abdominal pains medicine [8]
Fruits and leaves: powder applied
on boils [8]. Roots: extract drunk
77 as abdominal pains, infertility in
women medicine and root
Muchecheni powder applied on wounds [8]
78
Leaves: extract drunk as
Mupichisi diarrhoea medicine [22]
79
Bark: added to porridge as
remedy for diarrhoea and
Mukomberwa dysentery [9]
80
Roots: extract drunk as diarrhoea
Mudzvirungombe medicine [8]
Fruit: extract of fruit, Eucalyptus
camaldulensis and Psidium
81 guajava leaves drunk as cough,
Mulemoni flu and fever medicine [8]
Leaves: snuff applied on wounds
82
Fodya [8] Wounds [1]
83 Fruits: child bathed with fruit
macerate as remedy for scabies
Nhundurwa [9]
Diarrhoea and infertility [1];
and venereal diseases#[1, 10]
To dilate birth canal [1] and
expulsion of placenta#[10]
Epilepsy [1] and snake
repellent [24]
None found
General body pains [1]
Skin infections and wounds
[1]; body pains# and infertility
in women#[10]; boils#, sores Anthelmintic [15] and
and swellings#[11]
None found
Diarrhoea# and dysentery#[123] antimicrobial activities [125]
Diarrhoea [1]
Throat infections# and
tonsil#[128]
Rash#, ringworm#, skin
infections# and warts#[131]
Flavonoids, phenolic and
tannins; and antimicrobial
activity [115]
Cytotoxic activity [116]
Analgesic, anti-
inflammatory,
hypoglycaemic [117] and
antimalarial [88] activities
None found
Antimicrobial activity [118]
and flavonoids [119]
antimicrobial [120] activities
Antimicrobial, antioxidant
[121]; anti-tumour promoter
and anti-Oketsu syndrome
[122] effects
Alkaloids, flavonoids,
saponins, steroids, tannins
and terpenoids [124], anti-
inflammatory and
Flavonoids, antibacterial
[126, 127], antimalarial [88]
and antifungal [126]
activities
Analgesic, intestinal mucosa
protector and antiseptic [128]
Cytotoxic activity [129] and
steroidal glycosides [130]
Saponins; antibacterial,
cytotoxicity [16], antioxidant
and cytoprotective [132]
activities
 Roots: extract drunk as backache Flavonoids and microbial
84 Derere medicine [8] None found activity [133]

85 Roots: extract drunk as diarrhoea Alkaloids, triterpenoids and

Mutewa and gonorrhoea medicine [8] Diarrhoea#[10] antibacterial activity [134]
Roots: extract drunk as Inducing labour#, infertility# and
86 Mubhubhunu menorrhagia medicine [8] impotence#[10] Triterpenoids [101]
Roots: extract drunk as diarrhoea
87 Mutewa medicine [8] Diarrhoea [1] None found
Roots: extract instilled into the
vagina to dilate birth canal;
88 extract drunk as STI medicine and
root powder applied on wounds To dilate birth canal [1, 24]
Munanzwa [8] and venereal diseases [1] Antibacterial activity [52]
Antibacterial [13] and
antimalarial [88] activities;
89
Leaves: leaf sap applied on body flavonoids and triterpenes
Mbarambati parts infected with ring worm [9] Eye injuries#[10] [135]
Leaves and twigs: boiled leaves
90 and twigs drunk as remedy for
Zimbani cough and cold [9] Cold and cough [1, 10, 24] Antimicrobial activity [136]
Roots: extract drunk as diarrhoea
91 Muzambiringa medicine [8] Stomach troubles#[137] Antibacterial activity [138]
Roots: extract drunk as diarrhoea Gastro-intestinal
92 Muzambiringa medicine [8] complaints#[137] Antibacterial activity [138]
Antimicrobial [16], anti-
Roots: roots chewed and inflammatory, immuno-
93
swallowed as remedy for modulatory and anti-emetic
Tsangamidzi stomach pains [9] Digestive disorders#[139] [140] activities