Ethnopharmacological investigation of medicinal plants used by traditional healers in the treatment of malaria and HIV/AIDS in Meconta, Murrupula, and Ribaue districts, northern Mozambique

Plants continue to provide humans with new remedies, as 50% of all prescriptions from community pharmacies worldwide are derived from natural products, with higher plants contributing 25% of the total. It is essential to globalize traditional medicine to establish evidence-based healthcare, considering its safety, efficacy, and therapeutic and clinical evidence. To document the medicinal plants used by traditional medicine practitioners in the treatment of malaria and HIV/AIDS in Meconta, Murrupula, and Ribaué districts. This was an observational descriptive study with a qualitative–quantitative approach, conducted in July 2022 in the Meconta district and in August 2023 in the districts of Murrupula and Ribaué, involving 45 traditional medicine practitioners. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Plant specimens were photographed, collected, and sent for scientific identification through the Herbarium of the Institute of Agricultural Research of Mozambique, in Maputo. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and Excel 2007 software to characterize the number of plants mentioned and botanical families, frequency of citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC), fidelity level (FL), use value (UV) and informant consensus factor (ICF), plants parts used in malaria and HIV/AIDS treatment and its mode of preparation and administration.A literature review was performed, in vitro and in vivo pharmacological action for antiplasmodial activity, anti-retroviral and phytochemical purposes were further assessed. Among 39 plants identified in this study, 23 species of plants were used in Meconta district (18 species to treat malaria, five species to treat HIV/AIDS, and two species were used for both diseases), 16 and six plant species were used to treat malaria in Murrupula and Ribaue districts, respectively. The most cited plant species were Eucalyptus resinifera J. White (FC=10, RFC=0.22), followed by Brackenridgea zanguebarica Oliv. (FC=6, RFC=0.13), Senna petersiana (Bolle) Lock , and Psidium guajava L. (FC=5 of each, RFC=0.11). Roots (26.5%) and leaves (23.5%) were the most used plant parts by traditional healers.The most frequent modes of administration for malaria remedies were oral (29.4%), bathing (20.6%), and inhalation (11.8%), whereas for HIV/AIDS treatment, oral administration was most common (85.7%). According to the literature review, five species and one species warrant further investigation in antimalarial and antiretroviral assays, respectively. • An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in three districts of Nampula province in June 2022 and in August 2023. • In this study, 39 plant species were cited, including 34 for malaria, 5 for HIV/AIDS, and 2 for both diseases. • The knowledge of medicinal plants is mainly passed from elders to selected family members or to very few people through traditional teaching and ceremonies.