Medicinal Herbs Used by Hiv-Positive People in Lesotho

Abstract

Background: The use of medicinal herbs whose efficacy and toxicities are not known by HIV-positive people in Lesotho is a threat to the effectiveness of antiretroviral treatment. This study explored some medicinal herbs used by HIV-positive people in Lesotho and the reasons for their use. Methods: This was a cross sectional study based on a questionnaire distributed to purposively-sampled HIV-positive people in Leribe and Maseru districts of Lesotho. The participants' socio-demographic and clinical variables were summarized using frequency tables in Stata version 13 statistical software. Data variables for medicinal herbs used, frequency of use, uses by the participants and in the literature, parts of plants used and the method of preparation were also explored. Results: Out of 400 questionnaires distributed to the participants, 389 were returned with data acceptable for analysis. Ages of the participants ranged from 18 to 75 years (Mean=43 + 11.6). Out of the 272 (69.9%) participants who conceded that they had used medicinal herbs at least once, 30 (7.7%) participants used medicinal herbs frequently while 242 (62.2 %) rarely used the herbs. At least 20 plant species belonging to 16 families were reportedly used by the participants. Asteraceae was the most common plant family reportedly used by the participants. Allium sativum and Dicoma anomala, reportedly used by 21.0% and 14.3% respectively, were the most commonly used medicinal herbs in this population. In addition, boosting the immune system and treating gastrointestinal ailments, apparently cited by 32% and 28% participants respectively, were the most commonly reported reasons for using medicinal herbs. Conclusion: A considerable proportion (69.9%) of HIV-positive people use medicinal herbs in this population, and 7.7% use them frequently. At least 20 plant species belonging to 16 families were reportedly used by the participants. HIV counselling protocols in Lesotho should emphasize the dangers of using medicinal herbs whose safety and compatibility with antiretroviral drugs is not known. The efficacy and toxicity profiles of the medicinal plants identified in this study need to be investigated. Furthermore, the effects of these plants on antiretroviral treatment outcomes including herb-drug interactions need to be explored.

Prevalence, Perception and Predictors of Concomitant Herbal Medicine Use among HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Patients in Metekel Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Our fnding on the herbal medicine use among PLWHA is comparable with reports from other African countries that reported a prevalence between 53.7% and 58% [11,14,34]. However, it is lower than the fndings reported by Haile et al [10] in northwest Ethiopia (70.8%) and another study in Lesotho (69.9%) [35] but higher than the prevalence of herbal medicine use reports by two studies in Uganda [15,36]. Te fndings between studies might be due to diferences in study populations, unstandardized defnitions for herbal medicine, and inclusion/exclusion criteria for specifc types of therapies in these studies.…”

Medicinal plants of Lesotho: A review of ethnomedicinal, pharmacological and conservation studies

“…Conservation studies are essential since they provide critical information on the extent of the threat facing biodiversity to avoid over-exploitation and possible extinction of biological resources. This is particularly important because medicinal plants are heavily harvested in Lesotho to supply local and international markets (Motjotji 2011, Mojakhomo 2012, Masupha et al 2013, Mugomeri et al 2016b) This is also evidenced by several 'muthi' stalls in the informal markets of major towns such as Maseru and Maputsoe (Mojakhomo 2012, Masupha et al 2013, Mugomeri et al 2016b). In fact, (Masupha et al 2013) reported that more than 86% of traditional practitioners in Lesotho admitted to experiencing declining sources of plants and animals used in the preparation of traditional medicines.…”

A Review of Botany, Medicinal Uses, and Biological Activities of Pentanisia Prunelloides (Rubiaceae)

“…The compounds exhibited activities with MIC values ranging from 0.1 mg/mL to 0.6 mg/mL, whereas combination of the two compounds exhibited activities with MIC values ranging from 0.2 mg/mL to 4.0 mg/mL; synergistic interactions were noted against E. coli and E. faecalis with ΣFIC values of 0.1 and 0.50, respectively [6]. Mugomeri et al [63] used the checkerboard microdilution technique to determine the efficacy of mixing (-)-epicatechin and palmitic acid or any of these two compounds with P. prunelloides against B. cereus, S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumonia, and E. faecalis. The results demonstrated that the combinations resulted in either additive or synergistic effects, but no antagonistic interactions were observed [65].…”