An ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants traditionally used for cancer treatment in the Ashanti region, Ghana

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dc.contributor.authorAgyare, C.
dc.contributor.authorSpiegler, V.
dc.contributor.authorAsase, A.
dc.contributor.authorScholz, M.
dc.contributor.authorHempel, G.
dc.contributor.authorHensel, A.
dc.date.accessioned2019-07-12T10:05:44Z
dc.date.available2019-07-12T10:05:44Z
dc.date.issued2018-02
dc.description.abstractAims Cancer represents a major health burden and drain on healthcare resources in the world. The majority of the people of Africa still patronize traditional medicine for their health needs, including various forms of cancer. The aim of the following study is the identification of medicinal plants used for cancer treatment by the traditional healers in the Ashanti area of Ghana and to cross-reference the identified plant species with published scientific literature. Methodology Validated questionnaires were administered to 85 traditional healers in 10 communities within Ashanti region. For cross-validation, also 7 healers located outside Ashanti region were investigated to evaluate regional differences. Interviews and structured conversations were used to administer the questionnaires. Selected herbal material dominantly used by the healers was collected and identified. Results The ethnopharmacological survey revealed 151 plant species used for cancer treatment. Identified species were classified into different groups according to their frequency of use, resulting in the "top-22” plants. Interestingly group I (very frequent use) contained 5 plant species (Khaya senegalensis, Triplochiton scleroxylon, Azadirachta indica, Entandrophragma angolense, Terminalia superba), three of which belong to the plant family Meliaceae, phytochemically mainly characterized by the presence of limonoids. Cross-referencing of all plants identified by current scientific literature revealed species which have not been documented for cancer therapy until now. Special interest was laid on use of plants for cancer treatment of children. Conclusion A variety of traditionally used anti-cancer plants from Ghana have been identified and the widespread use within ethnotraditional medicine is obvious. Further in vitro and clinical studies will be performed in the near future to rationalize the phytochemical and functional scientific background of the respective extracts for cancer treatment.en_US
dc.identifier.otherhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.10.019
dc.identifier.otherVolume 212, Pages 137-152
dc.identifier.urihttp://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/31414
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherJournal of Ethnopharmacologyen_US
dc.subjectAzadirachta indicaen_US
dc.subjectCanceren_US
dc.subjectEntandrophragma angolenseen_US
dc.subjectGhanaen_US
dc.subjectKhaya senegalensisen_US
dc.subjectTerminalia superbaen_US
dc.subjectTriplochiton scleroxylonen_US
dc.titleAn ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants traditionally used for cancer treatment in the Ashanti region, Ghanaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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