Ethnobotanical and pharmacognostic review of medicinal plants used for musculoskeletal disorders and paralysis in Ethiopia: Bridging traditional knowledge with pharmacological pvidence

Abstract

Background: Traditional medicine remains an integral part of Ethiopia healthcare system, with a substantial proportion of the population relying on medicinal plants to manage conditions such as musculoskeletal disorders and paralysis. Despite their longstanding use, scientific evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of these remedies remain limited. This review provides available ethnobotanical studies to provide a comprehensive overview of medicinal plants used for these conditions and to future research directions.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, relevant data were retrieved from PubMed, Google Scholar, Research Gate, Scopus and Science Direct.

Results: A total of 35 studies were included documenting 122 plant species belonging to 61 families, with Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae being the most represented. Herbs consti tuted the predominant growth form, while leaves and roots were the most frequently utilized plant parts. The majority of remedies were administered orally or applied topically.

Conclusions: Approximately half of the reported plant species demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity; however, none have been scientifically evaluated for antiparalytic effects in the Ethiopian context. These findings highlight the need for rigorous pharmacological and clinical investigations to validate traditional practices and to facilitate the development of novel plant based therapeutic agents.

Keywords: Ethnobotany, Ethiopian traditional medicine, Paralysis, Musculoskeletal