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. 2024 May 24;10(11):e31908.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31908. eCollection 2024 Jun 15.

Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemistry of medicinal plants used in the management of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Uganda

Richard Oriko Owor  1   2 , Carol Kawuma  2   3 , Gauden Nantale  2   3 , Kenedy Kiyimba  2   4 , Samuel Baker Obakiro  2   4 , Simple Ouma  5 , Jalia Lulenzi  2   6 , Yahaya Gavamukulya  2   7 , Mercy Chebijira  1   2 , Tonny Wotoyitide Lukwago  2   4 , Moses Egor  1 , Peter Musagala  1 , Moses Andima  1   2 , Dan Kibuule  2   4 , Paul Waako  2   4 , Joseph Hokello  2   3
Affiliations

Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemistry of medicinal plants used in the management of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Uganda

Richard Oriko Owor et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

Currently, highly active antiretroviral therapy is unable to cure HIV/AIDS because of HIV latency. This study aimed at documenting medicinal plants used in the management of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Uganda so as to identify phytochemicals with HIV latency reversing potential. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted across eight districts in Eastern Uganda. Traditional medicine practitioners were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical tests were respectively, performed to determine the presence and quantity of phytochemicals in frequently mentioned plant species. Data were analysed and presented using descriptive statistics and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). Twenty-one plant species from fourteen plant families were reported to be used in the management of HIV/AIDS. Six plant species with the highest frequency of mention were: Zanthoxylum chalybeum, Gymnosporia senegalensis, Warbugia ugandensis, Leonatis nepetifolia, Croton macrostachyus and Rhoicissus tridentata. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of all the six most frequently mentioned plant species revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids and phenolics. Quantitative analysis revealed the highest content of flavonoids in L. nepetifolia (20.4 mg/g of dry extract) while the lowest content was determined in C. macrostachyus (7.1 mg/g of dry extract). On the other hand, the highest content of tannins was observed in L. nepetifolia. (199.9 mg/g of dry extract) while the lowest content was found in R. tridentata. (42.6 mg/g of dry extract). Medicinal plants used by traditional medicine practitioners in Eastern Uganda to manage HIV/AIDS are rich in phytochemicals including flavonoids and tannins. Further studies to evaluate the HIV-1 latency reversing ability of these phytochemicals are recommended to discover novel molecules against HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: HIV latency; Latency reversing agents; Medicinal plants; Phytochemicals; Traditional medicine practitioners.

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Conflict of interest statement

We wish to submit our original research article by Owor et al. titled, “Ethnobotanical survey and Phytochemistry of Medicinal Plants used in the Management of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Uganda”, for publication in the Heliyon Journal. We confirm that this is original research article which has not been submitted or published elsewhere and that the contents of the manuscript fit within the aims and scope of your Journal. The authors of this manuscript declare that there is no conflict of interest and that all authors have approved the final manuscript for publication. Considering all the above facts, we believe the manuscript is relevant for publication in your highly esteem Journal. Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Joseph Hokello, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Education, Busitema University, P.O Box 236, Tororo, Uganda. E-mail: josfrah4@gmail.com.mailto:josfrah4@gmail.com

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of Uganda showing the study area in Eastern Uganda.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Sociodemographic characteristics, source and transmission of traditional medicine knowledge by the study participants. (a) Districts surveyed and the distribution of sample size (b) Age group distribution of study participants (c) Source of knowledge and (d) Whether the participants have taught anyone.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Quantitative analysis of phytochemical contents of selected medicinal plant species most commonly used for managing HIV/AIDS in Eastern Uganda (a) Flavonoid content of selected medicinal plants and (b) Tannin content of selected medicinal plants. The bars represent the concentration in mg/g of the respective phytochemicals. The error bars represent the standard deviation of the mean.
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