A Review of the Ethnomedicinal and Ethnoveterinary importance of invasive plant species, their toxicity, pharmacological properties, and therapeutic compounds, in Protected Areas of Uganda

Ethnomedicinal and ethnoveterinary relevance : Invasive plant species, though with negative impacts on the environment, human health, and wildlife health, possess immense roles in ethnomedicine and ethnoveterinary fields. In Uganda, studies on invasive plant species are voluminous. However, studies that focus on ethnomedicinal and ethnoveterinary uses, toxicity, therapeutic compounds, and pharmacological activity of invasive plants in protected areas are extremely rare. Aim of the study : This review aimed to compile invasive plant species, their ethnomedicine uses, ethnoveterinary uses, and data on toxicity, pharmacological properties, and therapeutic compounds, in selected protected areas of Uganda. Materials and methods : The review examined 17 studies on invasive plants in selected protected areas of Uganda, and this was guided using a PRISMA flowchart. Results : 13 invasive plant species from 9 families were recorded, with most species belonging to the Fabaceae plant family. Leaves were highly depended on for both ethnomedicinal and ethnoveterinary purposes, with decoction and infusion being the most common methods of preparing medicine from invasive plants. Oral administration was also common. In humans, diseases that were commonly managed using medicine from invasive plants were syphilis, diarrhea, diabetes, hypertension, and malaria. In animals, ectoparasites were commonly managed using medicine from invasive plants. Other diseases also managed in animals were measles, diarrhea, lumps, and east coast fever. Invasive plants also possessed toxic effects such as asthma, eczema, skin inflammation and hay fever in humans, and kidney damage, diarrhea, mortality, bloat, and frothy in animals. Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant effects were the most common pharmacological activities possessed by invasive plant species followed by anti-cancer activity. Conclusion and future direction : There are still many invasive plants affecting Uganda’s protected areas with most of them not scientifically documented. The findings from this study can guide the use of invasive plants in drug discovery and product development rather than destroying them. There is a need for studies to investigate the relationship betweenthe pharmacological activity of invasive plants and the toxic effects that they possess.