Abstract
Traditional medicines, particularly medicinal plants, are valuable sources of antidiabetic therapy for many rural populations. However, there is limited documentation of the plants used by rural traditional healers, including the Maasai traditional practitioners (MTPs) in Tanzania. This study aims to document the traditional knowledge and antidiabetic plants used by MTPs in Monduli District, Arusha, Tanzania. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted from January to July 2024 among 55 MTPs in Monduli District, Arusha, Tanzania. The majority (70.9%) of MTPs had over 20 years of traditional experience of practice. The MTPs diagnose diabetes through signs and symptoms, and they identified physical inactivity (36%), high blood pressure (19%), and unhealthy diet (16%) as key risk factors for the development of diabetes. More than half (58.2%) of MTPs treat 1–10 diabetic patients per month. The study identified 41 species belonging to 21 plant families. The family Fabaceae represented the highest number of species (17%), followed by Combretaceae, Lamiaceae, Rutaceae, and Solanaceae (7%). The most frequently cited antidiabetic plants were Rhamnus staddo (RFC = 0.56, FL = 80.6), Zanthoxylum chalybeum (RFC = 0.49, FL= 85.2), Physalis peruviana (RFC = 0.49, FL = 77.8), Albizia anthelmintica (RFC = 0.47, FL= 80.8), and Pappea capensis (RFC = 0.47, FL = 69.2%). Roots (41%) and barks (31%) were the most harvested plant parts. Decoction was the primary method of remedies preparation with oral administration being preferred route. This study highlights the extensive antidiabetic knowledge of MTPs in the treatment of diabetes using medicinal plants. Of the 41 identified plants, over 81.5% have demonstrated promising antidiabetic activity in preclinical studies; however, further research is needed to isolate their bioactive compounds and elucidate their mechanisms of action.
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Claims 12
Claim · model-written summary
The survey identified 41 plant species in 21 families.
Verbatim
e0“The study identified 41 species belonging to 21 plant families”
e1“An ethnobotanical survey was conducted from January to July 2024 among 55 MTPs in Monduli District, Arusha, Tanzania”
Claim · model-written summary
Fabaceae represented the largest species share at 17%.
Verbatim
e0“The family Fabaceae represented the highest number of species (17%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Combretaceae, Lamiaceae, Rutaceae and Solanaceae each followed at 7%.
- Taxon
- CombretaceaeCombretaceaee0
- Outcome
- Combretaceae, Lamiaceae, Rutaceae, and Solanaceaee0
- Value
- 7%e0
Verbatim
e0“followed by Combretaceae, Lamiaceae, Rutaceae, and Solanaceae (7%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Rhamnus staddo was frequently cited as antidiabetic.
- Taxon
- Rhamnus staddo
Rhamnus staddoe0 - Outcome
- RFCe0
- Value
- 0.56e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Rhamnus staddo (RFC = 0.56, FL = 80.6)”
Claim · model-written summary
Zanthoxylum chalybeum was frequently cited as antidiabetic.
- Taxon
- Zanthoxylum chalybeum
Zanthoxylum chalybeume0 - Outcome
- RFCe0
- Value
- 0.49e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Zanthoxylum chalybeum (RFC = 0.49, FL= 85.2)”
Claim · model-written summary
Physalis peruviana was frequently cited as antidiabetic.
- Taxon
- Physalis peruviana
Physalis peruvianae0 - Outcome
- RFCe0
- Value
- 0.49e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Physalis peruviana (RFC = 0.49, FL = 77.8)”
Claim · model-written summary
Albizia anthelmintica was frequently cited as antidiabetic.
- Taxon
- Albizia anthelmintica
Albizia anthelminticae0 - Outcome
- RFCe0
- Value
- 0.47e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Albizia anthelmintica (RFC = 0.47, FL= 80.8)”
Claim · model-written summary
Pappea capensis was frequently cited as antidiabetic.
- Taxon
- Pappea capensisPappea capensise0
- Outcome
- RFCe0
- Value
- 0.47e0
Verbatim
e0“Pappea capensis (RFC = 0.47, FL = 69.2%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Roots were the most harvested plant part at 41%.
Verbatim
e0“Roots (41%) and barks (31%) were the most harvested plant parts”
Claim · model-written summary
Barks were harvested at 31%.
Verbatim
e0“Roots (41%) and barks (31%) were the most harvested plant parts”
Claim · model-written summary
Decoction was the primary remedy preparation method.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaet0
- Outcome
- Decoctione0
Verbatim
e0“Decoction was the primary method of remedies preparation”
t0“plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Oral administration was the preferred route for remedies.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaet0
- Outcome
- oral administratione0
Verbatim
e0“oral administration being preferred route”
t0“plants”