Elephantorrhiza elephantina: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of an Important Medicinal Plant Species in Southern Africa

Table 2

Ethnomedicinal uses of Elephantorrhiza elephantina in southern Africa.

Use	Plant part(s) used and preparation	Country of practice	References
Abdominal pains	Rhizome, root decoction taken orally	Lesotho; Zimbabwe	[3, 24]
Acne	Rhizome, root infusion applied externally	South Africa	[15, 36–38]
Anemia	Root decoction taken orally	Mozambique	[25]
Aphrodisiac	Root decoction taken orally	Zimbabwe	[3]
Bleeding	Root decoction applied on affected body part	Lesotho	[39]
Bloody diarrhoea in children	Root powder wiped around anus	Botswana	[40, 41]
Blood pressure	Rhizome decoction taken orally	South Africa	[12]
Breast cancer	Rhizome decoction taken orally	Lesotho	[24]
Chest pains	Roots taken as emetics	South Africa	[42]
Cleans blood	Rhizome decoction taken orally	Lesotho	[24]
Cleaning the womb after abortion	Rhizome decoction taken orally	Botswana; South Africa	[36, 40, 41]
Clearing air canal	Rhizome decoction taken orally	South Africa	[12]
Constipation, heartburn, indigestion, loss of appetite, stomach ailments, vomiting	Ingredient of a herbal mixture known as “Sejeso” (Ingwe brand) which also includes Alepidea amatymbica Eckl. & Zeyh., Hypoxis obtusa Burch. ex Ker Gawl., Pentanisia prunelloides (Klotzsch & Eckl. & Zeyh.) Walp., deionized water and potassium sorbate as preservative	South Africa	[43]
Diarrhoea	Leaf, rhizome, root, stem decoction taken orally	Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland	[15, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 44–46]
Diarrhoea	Rhizome mixed with root of Acokanthera oblongifolia Benth. & Hook.f. ex B.D. Jacks	South Africa	[44]
Dysentery	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa	[15, 38, 46]
Earache	Rhizome decoction taken orally	Botswana	[41]
Eczema	Roots and rhizome used in combination with Pentanisia prunelloides to treat eczema	South Africa	[36, 37]
Erectile dysfunction	Rhizome, root decoction taken orally	Botswana, South Africa	[21, 31, 47]
Fever	Roots taken as emetics	Mozambique, South Africa	[25, 42]
Fever	Rhizome decoction taken orally mixed with Pentanisia prunelloides	Zimbabwe	[43]
Haemorrhoids	Rhizome, root decoction taken orally	Lesotho, South Africa	[15, 24, 38, 48]
Herpes	Rhizome decoction taken orally	Lesotho	[24]
HIV/AIDS opportunistic diseases	Rhizome decoction taken orally mixed with roots of Boscia albitrunca (Burch.) Gilg & Gilg-Ben., Peltophorum africanum Sond. and Plectranthus ciliatus E. Mey.	South Africa	[49]
Itching	Rhizome decoction taken orally	South Africa	[12]
Infertility in women	Rhizome, root decoction taken orally	Lesotho, Zimbabwe	[3, 24]
Intestinal disorders	Rhizome, root decoction taken orally	Lesotho, South Africa	[15, 24, 38, 39]
Kidney failure	Rhizome decoction taken orally	South Africa	[12]
Love charms	Roots taken as emetics	South Africa	[42]
Menstrual problems	Root, stem decoction taken orally	Botswana, South Africa	[40, 44]
Pain killer	Root decoction taken orally	Mozambique	[25]
Peptic ulcers	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa	[4]
Rheumatic heart conditions	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa	[4]
Rheumatic heart conditions	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa	[4]
Sexually transmitted infections	Rhizome decoction taken orally	Botswana, Mozambique	[41, 45]
Shingles	Rhizome decoction taken orally	South Africa	[50]
Shingles	Root decoction taken orally in combination with Cladostemon kirkii (Oliv.) Pax & Gilg (roots), Drimia delagoensis (Baker) Jessop (bulb), Sarcophyte sanguinea Sparm. subsp. piriei (Hutch.) B. Hansen (bark)and Ranunculus multifidus Forssk. (whole plant)	South Africa	[51]
Sores	Rhizome decoction taken orally	South Africa	[50]
Sores	Root decoction taken orally in combination with Cladostemon kirkii (root), Drimia delagoensis (bulb), Ficus sur Forssk. (bark), Ranunculus multifidus (whole plant), Sarcophyte sanguinea subsp. piriei and Senecio serratuloides DC. (leaves)	South Africa	[51]
Stomach ailments	Roots taken as emetics	Lesotho, South Africa	[24, 42]
Stomach ailments	Rhizome decoction taken orally mixed with Acokanthera oblongifolia root or Pentanisia prunelloides	South Africa; Zimbabwe	[43, 44]
Sunburn	Underground parts used to treat sunburn	South Africa	[15, 38]
Syphilis	Root decoction taken orally	Lesotho, South Africa	[15, 24, 38, 39]
Tonsillitis	Rhizome boiled and extract taken orally	South Africa	[12]
Tuberculosis	Rhizome decoction taken orally	Lesotho	[24]
Ethnoveterinary medicine
Appetite stimulant	Rhizome decoction	South Africa	[27]
Black quarter	Rhizome decoction	South Africa	[27, 30]
Cough	Rhizome decoction	South Africa	[52]
Diarrhoea	Rhizome decoction	South Africa	[30, 48, 52]
Dysentery in cattle and horses	Root decoction	South Africa	[48]
Ectoparasites in goats (mites, ticks)	Root decoction	South Africa	[33]
Gastrointestinal parasites	Rhizome decoction	South Africa	[30]
Gall sickness	Rhizome decoction	South Africa	[30]
Heartwater	Rhizome decoction	South Africa	[27, 52]
Mange	Root decoction given to cows	South Africa	[53]
Pneumonia	Rhizome decoction	South Africa	[52]
Retained placenta in cattle	Rhizome decoction	Botswana, South Africa	[22, 30]
Tonic	Rhizome decoction	South Africa	[27]