Indigenous ethno-nutraceutical plants : potential game-changers for the dual management of ruminant helminths and undernutrition in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGOCAL RELEVANCE : Ruminant productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains low largely due to helminth infections coupled with undernutrition. To jointly boost ruminant health and nutritional status, rural farmers in SSA often resort to indigenous ethno-nutraceutical plants (iENPs), which form part of folkloric practices perceived to be more accessible, affordable and effective compared with chemotherapy which is challenged by helminth resistance. However, these perceived advantages are largely unsubstantiated. AIM OF THE STUDY : The current review aimed to 1) identify iENPs used as ruminant anthelminthic and undernutrition remedies in SSA, 2) document their bio-efficiency, mode of action, safety, and optimal application conditions and 3) highlight priority areas for further research. MATERIALS AND METHODS : A PRISMA approach-based search of literature from the past three decades was performed in several electronic academic research databases and accredited scholarly repositories. RESULTS : The review identified 15 iENPs from 88 scientific articles. The Vachellia and Vernonia species possessing polyphenols, saponins and essential oils as the dominant phytochemicals demonstrated the highest anthelminthic and nutritional potency. However, for most iENPs, nutrients and phytochemicals have not been fully profiled, optimal conditions of application are not yet ascertained, bio-efficiency is highly variable, mode of action remains unclear, and safety limits are unknown. CONCLUSION : To exploit the full potential of SSA's iENPs as anthelminthic and undernutrition remedies for ruminants, the review advocates for a holistic, transdisciplinary regional approach focusing on identifying key phytochemicals in indigenous plants, validating their bio-efficacy and mechanisms of action, determining safety limits, and optimizing application conditions using least-cost technologies.