Journal of Natural Remedies

Emelia Oppong Bekoe ¹, Gladys Schwinger ², Cindy Kitcher ¹, Alexander Nyarko ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, GH
2 Department of Plant and Environmental Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, GH
3 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, GH

Abstract

Diseases that affect the digestive tract are referred to as Gastrointestinal ailments. Gastrointestinal (GI) ailments contribute substantially to healthcare costs all over the world. Ocimum gratissimum, commonly known as African basil is a wellknown medicinal herb with a wide therapeutic potential. In most West African homes, it is employed as a home remedy for treating GI ailments such as diarrhoea, colitis, stomach ulcers, bloating, among several other conditions. Anecdotal reports support its efficacy in the treatment of these disease conditions. This review summarizes ethnomedicinal data for the use of O. gratissimum in the management of gastrointestinal ailments, and its potential clinical application based on its pharmacological activity.

Keywords

Ocimum gratissimum, African Basil, Gastrointestinal Ailments, Pharmacological Activity.

Full Text

   

Nana Ama Mireku-Gyimah ¹, Paul Owusu Donkor ¹, Cindy Kitcher ¹, Joseph Adusei Sarkodie ¹, Emelia Oppong Bekoe ¹, Obed Kwaku Boateng ¹, Alexander Kwadwo Nyarko ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, GH
2 Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, GH

Abstract

The majority of people living in developing countries rely on alternative medicine for many aspects of their healthcare needs. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of alternative treatments have been adopted in a bid to prevent contracting and sometimes purported to cure the disease. However, the adopted medicinal plants are mainly arbitrary and have not been captured nor reviewed in the light of available knowledge. In this review, we examined the herbs, fruits, vegetables and other alternative therapies that have been employed by many Ghanaians with the aim of COVID-19 disease prevention. The majority of these herbs are medicinal plants known to have antiviral activities, while others boost the immune system.

Keywords

COVID-19, Herbs, Preventive Therapy.

Full Text