Traditional Yoruba medicine and Plant-Based Therapies in the Management of Neurodegenerative Disorders: Evidence, Challenges and Future Prospects
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66024/1yqh8h46Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are a growing cause of public health challenge globally, especially in low and middle income countries where access to healthcare is limited. In South west Nigeria, the traditional Yoruba people have for a long time relied on plant-based therapies for the management of conditions associated with memory loss, seizures, insomnia, anxiety and other neurological disturbances. This review examines the role of traditional Yoruba medicine in the management of neurodegenerative disorders based on ethnobotanical documentation and scientific studies published from 2000 to present. Ethnobotanical evidence shows that plants such as Spondias mombin, Bacopa floribunda, Garcinia kola, Rauvolfia vomitoria and Moringa oleifera are commonly used traditionally for neurological and psychological conditions. Preclinical studies conducted on these plants reports their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and cholinesterase inhibitory activities, which are mechanistically relevant to neuroprotection and cognitive function. The reported effects are attributed to the plants’ bioactive phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, saponins and trpenoids. Despite increasing pharmacological interest, challenges such as variability in plant preparation, lack of standardised dosing, limited toxicity data and scarcity of clinical trials have hindered their transformation into conventional medicine. This review thus highlights the therapeutic potential and limitations of the traditional Yoruba herbal medicine, emphasizes the need for scientific validation, safety assessment and interdisciplinary collaboration. Integrating ethnobotanical knowledge with modern neuroscience and pharmacology may contribute to the development of affordable, effective and culturally acceptable interventions for neurodegenerative disorders.
Keywords: Neurodegeneration, Ethnobotany, Plant-Based Therapy, Acetylcholinesterase
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