Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for Cancer Treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.
Adetunji TL, Oyetunde-Joshua F, Ogunro OB, Andrew O, Amoo SO.
Medicinal Plants
Plants like soursop (Annona muricata) and baobab (Adansonia digitata) — species you may grow as houseplants or spot at botanical gardens — are among hundreds documented by traditional healers as cancer treatments, yet almost none have been rigorously tested, making every cultivated specimen a living link to potentially life-saving chemistry we haven't yet decoded.
Researchers combed through 20 years of scientific literature to catalog which plants healers across sub-Saharan Africa use against cancer. They found over 550 different plant species — mostly prepared as teas or decoctions from leaves, roots, and bark — that communities rely on because formal medical care is often out of reach. The big takeaway is that this traditional knowledge is a goldmine for discovering new cancer medicines, but the hard lab and clinical work to prove they're safe and effective has barely begun.
Key Findings
556 plant species from 110 families were documented as traditional cancer treatments across sub-Saharan Africa, with Fabaceae (51 species) and Asteraceae (34 species) the most represented families.
Leaves (41.2%), roots (18.75%), and bark (17.25%) are the most-used plant parts, primarily prepared by decoction (38.23%) or infusion/tea (49.73%) and taken orally (66.88%).
Only 55 studies met eligibility criteria from a 20-year search, underscoring how little pharmacological or clinical validation has been done on these widely-used remedies.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A systematic review of 55 studies identified 556 plant species across sub-Saharan Africa traditionally used to treat cancer, revealing a rich but largely untested pharmacological resource. The findings highlight a critical gap between centuries of indigenous knowledge and the clinical evidence needed to develop safe, effective plant-based cancer therapies.
Abstract Preview
Cancer represents one of the major public health issues in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with increasing incidence and mortality rates as a result of late diagnosis, limited healthcare infrastructure, ...
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Soursop is the fruit of Annona muricata, a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree. It is native to the tropical Americas and is widely propagated. It is in the same genus, Annona, as cherimoya and is in the Annonaceae family.