Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Medicinal Plants pp 361–398Cite as

Unexplored Medicinal Flora Hidden Within South Africa’s Wetlands

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 1493 Accesses

Abstract

In South Africa, an estimated 19,500 tons of medicinal plants are annually used in the treatment of various human ailments, while approximately 6000 tons are annually exported to other parts of the world for the development and design of novel medicine and cosmetics. Therefore, due to the wide range of medicinal species available it is not surprising to note that traditional medicine is the preferred form of primary healthcare for around 70% of the South African population. Although terrestrial ecosystems are abundant and rich in diversity, the lack of ethnobotanical study done on wetland ecosystems has impacted the amount of potential resources that South Africans could be acquiring. Wetlands support a great diversity of plant species and some of those plant species have the ability to produce secondary metabolites (phytochemicals) which could have major impacts on the development of botanical based medicine and cosmetic for various ailments based on their traditional usage and previous biological testing. Due to the large abundance and variety of plant species available, relatively easy cultivation processes and a large portion of the indigenous community already utilising the plants for their medicinal potential, this field holds much promise for the future and opens up many new opportunities for collaborations between the pharmaceutical industry and that of agriculture.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • AbouZid SF, Mohamed AA (2011) Survey on medicinal plants and spices used in Beni-Sueif, Upper Egypt. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 7(1):18

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Agati G, Azzarello E, Pollastri S, Tattini M (2012) Flavonoids as antioxidants in plants: location and functional significance. Plant Sci 196:67–76

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad M, Mahayrookh M, Rehman AB, Jahan N (2012) Analgesic, antimicrobial and cytotoxic effect of Cyperus rotundus ethanol extract. Pak J Pharmacol 29(2):7–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed F, Selim MST, Shilpi JA (2005) Antibacterial activity of Ludwigia adscendens. Fitoterapia 76(5):473–475

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Bayati FA (2009) Isolation and identification of antimicrobial compound from Mentha longifolia L. leaves grown wild in Iraq. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 8(1):20

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amaral MDCE, Faria AD, Magalhães AF, Magalhães EG, Ruiz ALT (2004) Steroids and triterpenes from Eleocharis acutangula and E. sellowiana (Cyperaceae). Phytochem Anal 15(2):125–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ammani K, Kumar AK (2012) Antimicrobial and phytochemical analysis of Nymphaea nauchali leaf extracts. Int J Res Rev Pharm Appl Sci 2(2):142–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Arber A (2010) Water plants: a study of aquatic angiosperms. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Banjamin A, Manickam VS (2007) Medicinal pteridophytes from the Western Ghats. Indian J Tradit Knowl 6:611–618

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhowmik S, Datta BK, Saha A (2013) Ethno-medicinal and phytochemical screening of some hydrophytes and marsh plans of Tripura, India. World Appl Sci J 22:1453–1459

    Google Scholar 

  • Blittersdorff R (2011) Floscopa glomerata. [Online] Available at: http://www.westafricanplants.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?page_id=14&id=747#. Accessed 19 July 2017

  • Bornette G, Puijalon S (2009) Macrophytes: ecology of aquatic plants. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Boz I, Zamfirache MM, Burzo I (2013) Chemical composition of essential oils from Mentha aquatica L. at different moments of the ontogenetic cycle. J Med Plants Res 7(9):470–473

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun K (2013) Cyperus dives. [Online] Available at: https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/southern-africa/view/observation/423451/cyperus-dives. Accessed 19 July 2017

  • van der Burg WJ (2004) Commelina benghalensis L. PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa), Wageningen, Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Buwa LV, van Staden J (2006) Antibacterial and antifungal activity of traditional medicinal plants used against venereal diseases in South Africa. J Ethnopharmacol 103(1):139–142

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Calow G (2008) Mentha aquatic. [Online] Available at: http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/water-mint. Accessed 25 Aug 2017

  • Chai TT, Yeoh LY, Ismail NIM, Ong HC, Wong FC (2015) Cytotoxicity and antiglucosidase potential of six selected edible and medicinal ferns. Acta Pol Pharm Drug Res 72(2):297–401

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi C, Bareiss C, Walenciak O, Gross EM (2002) Impact of polyphenols on the growth of aquatic herbivore Acentria ephemerella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidea). J Chem Ecol 28:2223–2235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins NB (2005) Wetlands: the basics and some more. Free State Department of Tourism, Environment and Economic Affairs, South Africa

    Google Scholar 

  • Cronk JK, Fennessy MS (2001) Wetland plants: biology and ecology. CRC Press/Lewis Publishers, FL

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouch NR, Mulholland DA, Chetty J, van Staden J (2005) Lupane triterpenoid and alkaloid isolates from Cyrtanthus breviflorus (Amaryllidaceae). S Afr J Bot 71(1):104–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Darwall W, Tweddle D, Smith K, Skelton P (2009) The status and distribution of freshwater biodiversity in southern Africa. IUCN, South Africa

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Gregorio B (2008) Cyperus rotundus. [Online] Available at: http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=cyperus+rotundus. Accessed 19 July 2017

  • Drewes SE, Khan F, van Vuuren SF, Viljoen AM (2005) Simple 1,4-benzoquinones with antibacterial activity from stems and leaves of Gunnera perpensa. Phytochemistry 66(15):1812–1816

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Du Rabuais M (2008) Cladium mariscus. [Online] Available at: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/7208148@N02/2592930119/. Accessed 19 July 2017

  • Duke JA, Ayensu ES (1985) Medicinal plants of China. Reference Publishers Inc., MI

    Google Scholar 

  • Eickhoff D (2009) Cyclosorus interruptus. [Online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclosorus_interruptus. Accessed 19 July 2017

  • Elgorashi EE, Drewes SE, van Staden J (1999) Alkaloids from Crinum bulbispermum. Phytochemistry 52(3):533–536

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elgorashi EE, Drewes SE, van Staden J (2001) Alkaloids from Crinum moorei. Phytochemistry 56(6):637–640

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fern K (2014a) Persicaria senegalensis. [Online] Available at: http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Persicaria+senegalensis. Accessed 23 Mar 2016

  • Fern K (2014b) Nymphoides indica. [Online] Available at: http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=nymphoides+indica. Accessed 23 Mar 2016

  • Freitag A (2014) Riparian zone. [Online] Available at: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/155754/. Accessed 15 June 2015

  • Gerber A, Cilliers CJ, van Ginkel C, Glen R (2004) Easy identification of aquatic plants. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Pretoria

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerstner J (1939) A preliminary checklist of Zulu names and plants with short notes. Bantu Stud 13:46–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerus T (2011) Crinum bulbispermum. [Online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crinum_bulbispermum. Accessed 19 July 2017

  • Ghani A (1998) Medicinal plants of Bangladesh: chemical constituents and uses. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Bangladesh

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghani A (2003) Medicinal plants of Bangladesh, 2nd edn. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka

    Google Scholar 

  • Grieve M (2012) Plantago longissima. [Online] Available at: http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/plantago. Accessed 3 Mar 2015

  • Hanawa F, Okamoto M, Towers GH (2002) Antimicrobial DNA-binding photosensitizers from the Common Rush, Juncus effusus. Photochem Photobiol 76(1):51–56

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hankey A (2001) Crinum bulbispermum. [Online] Available at: http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/crinumbulbisp.htm. Accessed 22 Apr 2016

  • Harborne JB (1979) Correlations between flavonoid chemistry, anatomy and geography in the Restionaceae family. Phytochemistry 18(8):1323–1327

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harborne JB, Boardley M, Lindert HP (1985) Variations in flavonoid patterns within the genus Chondropetalum (Restionaceae). Phytochemistry 24(2):273–278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harris DJ (2005) Ludwigia adscendens. [Online] Available at: http://www.centralafricanplants.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?page_id=34&id=1037#image=48929. Accessed 19 July 2017

  • Hasan SM, Hossain M, Akter R, Jamila M, Mazumder M, Hoque E, Rahman S (2009) Sedative and anxiolytic effects of different fractions of the Commelina benghalensis Linn. Drug Discov Ther 3(5):221–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Hennessy EF (1991) Erythrineae (Fabaceae) in southern Africa. Bothalia 21(1):1–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heyman HM, Hussein AA, Meyer JJM, Lall N (2009) Antibacterial activity of South African medicinal plants against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Pharm Biol 47(1):67–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Howard RA (2017) Aponogeton distachyos. [Online] Available at: https://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=apdi_003_ahp.tif. Accessed 25 Aug 2017

  • Huang H, Xiao X, Ghadouani A (2015) Effects of natural flavonoids on photosynthetic activity and cell integrity in Microcystis aeruginosa. Toxins (Basel) 7(1):66–80

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hussein S, Usama EM, Tantawy M, Kawashty S, Saleh N (2012) Phenolics of selected species of Persicaria and Polygonum (Polygonaceae) in Egypt. Arab J Chem 10:76–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchings A, Scott AH, Lewis G, Cunningham A (1996) Zulu medicinal plants: an inventory. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyde MA, Wursten BT, Ballings P, Coates Palgrave M (2016) Flora of Zimbabwe: Flora of Mozambique: species information: individual images: Limosella maior. [Online] Available at: http://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/image-display.php?species_id=151330&image_id=2. Accessed 25 July 2017

  • Hyde MA, Wursten BT, Ballings P, Coates Palgrave M (2017) Flora of Zimbabwe: species information: Schoenoplectus corymbosus. [Online] Available at: http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=110840. Accessed 25 Mar 2017

  • Ibrahim J, Ajaegbu VC, Egharevba HO (2010) Pharmacognostic and phytochemical analysis of Commelina benghalensis L. J Ethnobot Leaflets 2010(5):7

    Google Scholar 

  • Jäger AK, Adsersen A, Fennell CW, Houghton PJ (2004) Acetylcholinesterase inhibition of Crinum sp. S Afr J Bot 70(2):323–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jain SK, Srivastava S (2005) Traditional uses of some Indian plants among islanders of the Indian Ocean. Indian J Tradit Knowl 4(4):345

    Google Scholar 

  • Kam MYY, Chai LC, Chin CF (2016) The biology and in vitro propagation of the ornamental aquatic plant, Aponogeton ulvaceus. Springerplus 5(1):1657

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Keddy PA (2010) Wetland ecology: principles and conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Khanyile S (2004) Crinum moorei. [Online] Available at: http://pza.sanbi.org/crinum-moorei. Accessed 25 Aug 2017

  • Khumbula Nursery (2014) Crinum bulbispermum. [Online] Available at: http://kumbulanursery.co.za/plants/crinum-bulbispermum. Accessed 22 Apr 2016

  • Kirtikar KR, Basu BD (1999) Indian medicinal plants, 2nd edn. International Book Distributors, India

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawal OA, Oyedeji AO (2009) Chemical composition of the essential oils of Cyperus rotundus L. from South Africa. Molecules 14(8):2909–2917

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarević J, Radulović N, Palić R, Zlatković B (2010) Chemical analysis of volatile constituents of Berula erecta (Hudson) Coville subsp. erecta (Apiaceae) from Serbia. J Essent Oil Res 22(2):153–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Roux L (2004) Lippia javanica. [Online] Available at: https://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/lippiajavan.htm. Accessed 1 Apr 2017

  • Li PH, Chiu YP, Shih CC, Wen ZH, Ibeto LK, Huang SH, Chiu CC, Ma DL, Leung CH, Chang YN, Wang HMD (2016) Biofunctional activities of Equisetum ramosissimum extract: protective effects against oxidation, melanoma, and melanogenesis. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2016:2853543

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Liao YJ, Zhai HF, Zhang B, Duan TX, Huang JM (2011) Anxiolytic and sedative effects of dehydroeffusol from Juncus effusus in mice. Planta Med 77(5):416–420

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lopes A, Rodrigues MJ, Pereira C, Oliveira M, Barreira L, Varela J, Trampetti F, Custódio L (2016) Natural products from extreme marine environments: searching for potential industrial uses within extremophile plants. Ind Crop Prod 94:299–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mabona U, van Vuuren SF (2013) Southern African medicinal plants used to treat skin diseases. S Afr J Bot 87:175–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macaskill C (2010) The National Agricultural Dictionary. Rainbow SA, Johannesburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Madikizela B, Ndhlala AR, Finnie JF, Van Staden J (2012) Ethnopharmacological study of plants from Pondoland used against diarrhoea. J Ethnopharmacol 141(1):61–71

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mannan MM, Maridass M, Victor B (2008) A review on the potential uses of ferns. J Ethnobot Leaflets 12:281–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Masoko P, Mokgotho MP, Mbazima VG, Mampuru LJ (2008) Biological activities of Typha capensis (Typhaceae) from Limpopo Province (South Africa). Afr J Biotechnol 7(20):3743–3748

    Google Scholar 

  • Massyn A (2006) Typha capensis. [Online] Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Typha_capensis.jpg. Accessed 25 Mar 2017

  • Mbazima V, Mokgotho M, February F, Rees D, Mampuru L (2008) Alteration of Bax-to-Bcl-2 ratio modulates the anticancer activity of methanolic extract of Commelina benghalensis (Commelinaceae) in Jurkat T-cells. Afr J Biotechnol 7(20):3569–3576

    Google Scholar 

  • McClure JW (1970) Secondary constituents of aquatic angiosperms. In: Harborne JB (ed) Phytochemical phylogeny. Academic Press, London, pp 233–268

    Google Scholar 

  • McGaw LJ, Jäger AK, Van Staden J (2000) Antibacterial, anthelmintic and anti-amoebic activity in South African medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 72(1):247–263

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Milliken W (2009) Eleocharis acutangula. [Online] Available at: https://www.kew.org/science/tropamerica/neotropikey/families/Cyperaceae.htm. Accessed 17 July 2017

  • Mimica-Dukić N, Božin B, Soković M, Mihajlović B, Matavulj M (2003) Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of three Mentha species essential oils. Planta Med 69(5):413–419

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mitsch WJ, Gosselink JG (2007) Wetlands, 4th edn. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., NJ

    Google Scholar 

  • Mittlehauser G (2017) Juncus effusus. [Online] Available at: https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/juncus/effusus/. Accessed 17 July 2017

  • Mkaddem M, Bouajila J, Ennajar M, Lebrihi A, Mathieu F, Romdhane M (2009) Chemical composition and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Mentha (longifolia L. and viridis) essential oils. J Food Sci 74(7):M358–M363

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moteetee A, Van Wyk BE (2011) The medical ethnobotany of Lesotho: a review. Bothalia 41(1):209–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mujovo SF, Hussein AA, Meyer JM, Fourie B, Muthivhi T, Lall N (2008) Bioactive compounds from Lippia javanica and Hoslundia opposita. Nat Prod Res 22(12):1047–1054

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nichols G (2002) Crinum moorei. Farmer’s Weekly, 9

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols G (2004) Lippia javanica. [Online] Available at: http://pza.sanbi.org/lippia-javanica. Accessed 24 Aug 2017

  • Notten A (2001) Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. katharinae. [Online] Available at: http://pza.sanbi.org/scadoxus-multiflorus-subsp-katharinae. Accessed 11 Nov 2017

  • Park NY, Kim SG, Park HH, Jeong KT, Lee YJ, Lee E (2016) Anti-inflammatory effects of Juncus effusus extract (JEE) on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and edema models. Pharm Biol 54(2):243–250

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patel DK, Kumar R, Laloo D, Hemalatha S (2012) Natural medicines from plant sources used for therapy of diabetes mellitus: an overview of its pharmacological aspects. Asian Pac J Trop Dis 2:239–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pauline Vincent VC, Irudayaraj V, Johnson M (2012) Antibacterial efficacy of macroscopic, microscopic parts of sporophyte and in vitro cultured gametophyte of fern Cyclosorus interruptus (Willd) H. Ito (Thelypteridaceae Pteridophyta). J Chem Pharm Res 24(2):1167–1172

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry LM (1980) Medicinal plants of east and South East Asia: attributed properties and uses. The MIT Press, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Pillay CC, Jäger AK, Mulholland DA, Van Staden J (2001) Cyclooxygenase inhibiting and anti-bacterial activities of South African Erythrina species. J Ethnopharmacol 74(3):231–237

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Porter GH (2005) Prionium serratum. [Online] Available at: http://pza.sanbi.org/prionium-serratum. Accessed 24 Aug 2017

  • Porter H (2011) Prionium serratum. [Online] Available at: https://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/prionserr.htm. Accessed 25 Mar 2017

  • Prance GT, Arias JR (1975) A study of the floral biology of Victoria amazonica (Poepp.) Sowerby (Nymphaeaceae). Acta Amazon 5(2):109–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pratush A, Dogra S, Gupta A (2013) Antimicrobial and phytochemical screening of rhizome extracts of some native medicinal plant of Himachal Pradesh (India). Appl Biol Res 15(2):149–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Puchooa D, Khoyratty SUSS (2004) Genomic DNA extraction from Victoria amazonica. Plant Mol Biol Report 22(2):195a

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quadri-Spinelli T, Heilmann J, Rali T, Sticher O (2000) Bioactive coumarin derivatives from the fern Cyclosorus interruptus. Planta Med 66(8):728–733

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ramesh S, Rajan R, Santhanam R (2013) Freshwater phytochemical compounds. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ranglová K, Krejčová P, Kubec R (2015) The effect of storage and processing on antimicrobial activity of Tulbaghia violacea. S Afr J Bot 97:159–164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Refaat J, Kamel MS, Ramadan MA, Ali AA (2013) Crinum; an endless source of bioactive principles: a review. Part V. Biological profile. Int J Pharm Sci Res 4(4):1239

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Rensburg TJF (1982) Coral tree: tree of the year. Pretoria Directorate of Forestry, Pretoria

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts M (1990) Indigenous healing plants. Southern Book Publishers, South Africa

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts M (2000) Edible and medicinal plants. New Africa Books, Claremont

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts MF (ed) (2013) Alkaloids: biochemistry, ecology, and medicinal applications. Springer Science & Business Media, New York, p 64

    Google Scholar 

  • Rood B (2008) Uit Die Veldepteek. Protea Boekhuis, Pretoria

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwegler M (2015) Medicinal Plants. [Online] Available at: http://fernkloof.com/medicinal-plants.mv. Accessed 5 Mar 2015

  • Scott G, Springfield EP (2004) Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species used as traditional medicines. [Online] Available at: http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs. Accessed 5 July 2016

  • Selim MS (2003) Phytochemical and pharmacological screening of Ludwigia adscendens L.B. Khulna University, Bangladesh

    Google Scholar 

  • Shebs S (2006) Melianthus major. [Online] Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melianthus_major_1.jpg. Accessed 24 Aug 2017

  • Shebs B (2008) Berula thunbergii. [Online] Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Berula_erecta#/media/File:Berula_erecta_1.jpg. Accessed 19 July 2017

  • Shode FO, Mahomed AS, Rogers CB (2002) Typhaphthalide and typharin, two phenolic compounds from Typha capensis. Phytochemistry 61(8):955–957

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sieben E, Mtshali H, Janks M (2015) Distribution, ecological drivers and conservation importance of wetland vegetation types in South Africa. [Online] Available at: http://biodiversityadvisor.sanbi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/32-Sieben-WetlandVegetationTypes1.pdf. Accessed 27 Apr 2016

  • Simelane MBC, Lawal OA, Djarova TG, Musabayane CT, Singh M, Opoku AR (2012) Lactogenic activity of rats stimulated by Gunnera perpensa L. (Gunneraceae). South Africa. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 9(4):561–573

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Smart RM, Dick GO, Snow JR (2005) Update to the propagation and establishment of aquatic plants handbook. ERDC/EL TR-05-4. Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Lewisville

    Google Scholar 

  • Smolders AJ, Vergeer LH, van der Velde G, Roelofs JG (2000) Phenolic contents of submerged, emergent and floating leaves of aquatic and semi-aquatic macrophyte species: why do they differ? Oikos 91:307–310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steenkamp V, Mathivha E, Gouws MC, Van Rensburg CEJ (2004) Studies on antibacterial, antioxidant and fibroblast growth stimulation of wound healing remedies from South Africa. J Ethnopharmacol 95(2–3):353–357

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strack D, Wray V, Metzger JW, Grosse W (1992) Two anthocyanins acylated with gallic acid from the leaves of Victoria amazonica. Phytochemistry 31(3):989–991

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart GA (1911) Chinese Materia Medica. Presbyterian Mission Press, Shanghai

    Google Scholar 

  • Taiz L, Zeiger E (2010) Plant physiology, 5th edn. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland

    Google Scholar 

  • Thebtaranonth C, Thebtaranonth Y, Wanauppathamkul S, Yuthavong Y (1995) Antimalarial sesquiterpenes from tubers of Cyperus rotundus: structure of 10, 12-peroxycalamenene, a sesquiterpene endoperoxide. Phytochemistry 40(1):125–128

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turner S, Jamieson H (2016) Elegia tectorum. [Online] Available at: http://pza.sanbi.org/elegia-tectorum. Accessed 11 Nov 2017

  • Uddin SJ, Mondal K, Shilpi JA, Rahman MT (2006) Antidiarrhoeal activity of Cyperus rotundus. Fitoterapia 77(2):134–136

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Voigt W, Porter H (2007) Typha capensis. [Online] Available at: http://www.plantzafrica.com/planttuv/typhacapen.htm. Accessed 24 July 2015

  • van der Walt L (2000) Melianthus major. [Online] Available at: http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/melianthusmajor.htm. Accessed 29 Apr 2016

  • van der Walt L (2004) Mentha longifolia. [Online] Available at: http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/mentlong.htm. Accessed 24 July 2015

  • Wang X, Jia Z (2005) Chemical constituents of Equisetum ramosissimum. Acta Botan Boreali-Occiden Sin 25(12):2524–2528

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watt JM, Breyer-Brandwijk MG (1962) The medicinal and poisonous plants of southern and eastern Africa, 2nd edn. Livingstone, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Wildflower Nursery (2004) Indigenous plant database. [Online] Available at: http://wildflowernursery.co.za/. Accessed 26 July 2017

  • Wink M, van Wyk BE (2008) Mind altering and poisonous plants of the world. Briza, Pretoria

    Google Scholar 

  • Wursten BT (2004) Flora of Zimbabwe: Persicaria senegalensis. [Online] Available at: http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/image-display.php?species_id=121840&image_id=1. Accessed 26 July 2017

  • van Wyk BE (2008) A review of Khoi-San and Cape Dutch medical ethnobotany. J Ethnopharmacol 119(3):331–341

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yusuf M, Chowdhury JU, Yahab MA, Begum J (1994) Medicinal plants of Bangladesh. BCSIR Laboratories, Bangladesh

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Karina Mariam Szuman & Namrita Lall

  2. Water Research Commission of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

    Bonani Madikizela

Authors
  1. Karina Mariam Szuman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Namrita Lall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bonani Madikizela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Namrita Lall .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Research Station, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA, USA

    Nirmal Joshee

  2. Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD, USA

    Sadanand A. Dhekney

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    Prahlad Parajuli

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Szuman, K.M., Lall, N., Madikizela, B. (2019). Unexplored Medicinal Flora Hidden Within South Africa’s Wetlands. In: Joshee, N., Dhekney, S., Parajuli, P. (eds) Medicinal Plants. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31269-5_16

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation