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8 South African plants identified with Anti-Parkinson activity

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Of the more than 30,000 flowering plants found in South Africait is estimated that approximately 1,020 plant species are used in traditional medicine in South Africa.

This expertise is local and quite extensive with evidence of plant-based medicine use going back to 1000 BC.

Many neurodegernative and psychiatric conditions in South Africa have been treated with plants including Parksinson’s disease.                                                                                                      

The mechanism of these plants for anti-Parkinson activity include inhibition of monoamine oxidase B (i.e. an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters), Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibition (SSRI; similar to anti-depressant drugs), increases glutathione content (i.e. antioxidant levels increased).

These different mechanisms are believed by researchers to help preserve nerve function.

Study Details to Identify plants for Anti-Parkinson Activity

Databases:  PubMed, Science Direct, Google scholar and Scopus from January 1980 until January 2018 for research articles published on potential anti-parkinson agents derived from South African medicinal plants.

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Here are the plants identified with anti-Parkinson’s activity

Amaryllidaceae (Scadoxus  puniceus)

Traditional Use – known to cause CNS depression or excitation

Mechanism – Inhibition of MAO-B, Inhibits activation of Caspase 3, Restoration of intracellular Glutathione content


Amaryllidaceae (Scadoxus  puniceus)

Asclepidaceae  (Gomphocarpus physocarpus)

Traditional use – leaves are often used to ‘strengthen body’. The powdered leaf is used as sedative Mechanism – Inhibition of MAO-B


Asclepidaceae  (Gomphocarpusphysocarpus)

Lamiaceae (Leonotis leonurus) 

Traditional Use – mildly narcotic, water extracts are reported to have anticonvulsant activity in animal studies     

Mechanism – Inhibition of MAO-B

Lamiaceae (Mentha aquatica)

Traditional use – Contains flavones.  Mixed with leaves of Tagetes minuta L., burned and then the smoke is inhaled for treating mental illness in Venda. Leaf extracts inhibited Selective serotonin reuptake inhibition (SSRI) activity.      

Mechanism – Inhibition of MAO-B

Rutaceae (Ruta graveolens)

Traditional use – Herb and oil of this plant is used to treat hysteria in South Africa. The plant is traditionally used in Europe for hysteria.

Mechanism – Inhibition of MAO-B


Rutaceae (Ruta graveolens)

Anacardiaceae  (Lannea schweinfurthii)

Traditional use – Decoctions from the root are used to improve memory and as a sedative.           

Mechanism – Inhibits activation of Caspase 3, Restoration of intracellular Glutathione content     


Anacardiaceae  (Lannea schweinfurthii)

Rutaceae (Zanthoxylum capense)

Traditional use – Used as infusions and decoctions to treat epilepsy and febrile conditions             

Mechanism – Inhibits activation of Caspase 3, Restoration of intracellular Glutathione content     


Rutaceae (Zanthoxylum capense)

Amaryllidaceae (Crinum bulbispermum)

Traditional use – Crinum species are used as anticonvulsants.

Mechanism  -Inhibits activation of Caspase 3, Restoration of intracellular Glutathione content


Amaryllidaceae (Crinum bulbispermum)

Reference: 

Adaze Bijou Enogieru, Sylvester Ifeanyi Omoruyi, Donavon Charles Hiss, Okobi Eko Ekpo. Potential antiparkinsonian agents derived from South African medicinal plants.  Journal of Herbal Medicine. Volume 13, September 2018, Pages 1-7

Jeremy Johnson, PharmD, PhD
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Categories: Plant Medicine