Scientific evidence of anticonvulsant activity of medicinal plants in Iringa, Tanzania

Introduction: Medicinal plants used traditionally to treat various ailments provide a solid lead towards drug discovery. However, the majority of medicinal plants locally used to treat various health problems lack scientific approval and documentation. This study aimed to identify medicinal plants traditionally used for treating epilepsy in Mufindi and Kilolo districts, Iringa region, and to explore scientific evidence of the anticonvulsant activity. Methods: The study was conducted in the Hehe society in Iringa region, which mainly relies on medicinal plants in treating various ailments. Data were collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, field visits, and online literature reviews. Results: A total of 37 medicinal plant species were identified by both local and scientific names, with the Fabaceae family leading with five species, followed by the Verbenaceae and Rubiaceae families with four species each. Asteraceae and Araliaceae had only two plant species each, while the remaining twenty plant families had one species each. However, the literature review confirmed documented anticonvulsant activity in only 46% of these plants, indicating a need for comprehensive phytochemical analyses to explore potential unreported anticonvulsant activities. Despite limited literature on anticonvulsant properties, the identified plants have already been reported to possess medicinal properties for treating other diseases. Conclusion: The study underscores the potential of traditional medicinal knowledge and identifies potential medicinal plants traditionally used by the Hehe society, with limited scientific evidence from the literature. This reveals areas for further research to fully leverage their therapeutic benefits in modern medicine.