Review of Herbal Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Cancers in the East Africa Region from 2019 to 2023 - Integrative Cancer Therapies - Volume 23 - Article

Sep 21, 2026

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Herbal plants are critical for cancer treatment and control across the East African region, yet ethnobotanical evidence used by different ethnic groups has not been consolidated into a single study since 2019. A review compiling original ethnobotanical research from April 2019 to June 2023 identified medicinal plant families, species, used plant parts, preparation and administration routes, and study countries. Results include 105 species from 45 families, with Uganda showing the highest share; decoction and oral use dominated.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages19

Reading Time48 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Purpose

Materials and Methods

Data sources and synthesis

Results

Conclusion

Global and Regional Prevalence of Cancer

Ecological and Cultural Set-Ups in East African Regional Countries

Review of Herbal Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Cancers in the East Africa Region from 2019 to 2023 Integrative Cancer Therapies Volume 23: 1–19 © The Author(s) 2024 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[ ](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[DOI: 10.1177/15347354241235583](DOI: 10.1177/15347354241235583)[ ](DOI: 10.1177/15347354241235583)[journals.sagepub.com/home/ict](journals.sagepub.com/home/ict) Ali Kudamba, MSc 1,2,3, Josephine N. Kasolo, PhD 1, Godfrey S. Bbosa, PhD 1, Allan Lugaajju, PhD 1, Henry Wabinga, PhD 1, Hussein M. Kafeero, PhD2, Jamilu E. Ssenku, PhD3, Shaban O. Alemu, MSc2, Abdul Walusansa, PhD2,3, Nixon Niyonzima, PhD4, and Haruna Muwonge, PhD 1 Abstract Background: In the East African region, herbal plants are essential in the treatment and control of cancer. Given the diverse ecological and cultural makeup of the regional states, it is likely that different ethnic groups will use the same or different plants for the same or different diseases. However, since 2019, this has not been compiled into a single study. Purpose: The study aimed to compile and record the medicinal plants utilized in East Africa from April 2019 to June 2023 to treat various cancer types. Materials and methods: The study examined 13 original studies that included ethnobotanical research conducted in East Africa. They were retrieved from several internet databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, and Research for Life. The study retrieved databases on plant families and species, plant parts used, preparation methods and routes of administration, and the country where the ethnobotanical field surveys were conducted. Graphs were produced using the GraphPad Prism 8.125 program (GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego, CA). Tables and figures were used to present the data, which had been condensed into percentages and frequencies. Results: A total of 105 different plant species from 45 different plant families were identified, including Asteraceae (14), Euphorbiaceae (12), Musaceae (8), and Apocynaceae (7). Uganda registered the highest proportion (46% of the medicinal plants used). The most commonly mentioned medicinal plant species in cancer management was Prunus africana. Herbs (32%), trees and shrubs (28%), and leaves (45%) constituted the majority of herbal remedies. Most herbal remedies were prepared by boiling (decoction) and taken orally (57%). Conclusion: East Africa is home to a wide variety of medicinal plant species that local populations and herbalists, or TMP, frequently use in the treatment of various types of cancer. The most frequently used families are Asteraceae and Euphorbiaceae, with the majority of species being found in Uganda. The most frequently utilized plant species is Prunus africana. Studies on the effectiveness of Prunus africana against other malignancies besides prostate cancer are required. Keywords anticancer, malignancies, medicinal plants, East Africa, cancer, herbal medicine Submitted August 25, 2023; revised January 6, 2024; accepted February 9, 2024 Introduction Global and Regional Prevalence of Cancer Cancer is a chronic illness that is a major source of morbidity and death and a factor that is reducing life expectancy globally in the twenty-first century. 1,2 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there will be 8.8 million cancer-related deaths worldwide in 2030. In 2015, more than 17.5 million new cases were diagnosed.3 1 Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda 2Islamic University in Uganda, Kampala, Uganda 3Islamic University in Uganda, Mbale, Uganda 4Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda Corresponding Author: Ali Kudamba, Department of Medical Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, PO Box 7062, Kampala 256, Uganda. Email: [alikudamba@gmail.com](alikudamba@gmail.com) Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC:

FAQs

What was the purpose of this study?

To compile and record medicinal plants used in East Africa from April 2019 to June 2023 for treating different cancer types.

How were the included studies and data collected?

The review examined 13 original ethnobotanical studies and retrieved information from databases including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, and Research for Life, covering species, plant parts, preparation methods, administration routes, and survey countries.

What plant species and usage patterns were most prominent?

A total of 105 species from 45 families were identified; Uganda contributed the highest proportion. Prunus africana was the most frequently mentioned species, while decoction and oral administration were the most common preparation and route.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Finn