Plants Used for Disabilities in Mozambique
摘要
In Mozambique, a Lusophone country in Southern Africa, traditional medicine remains an important component of health care, especially within rural communities. This is characterized by a strong reliance on medicinal plants. Despite the significant public health burden of disabilities, the associated ethnopharmacological knowledge for their management has not been systematically documented. This entry addresses this gap by presenting the first comprehensive compilation of medicinal plants used for disability-related conditions in Mozambique, based on a critical review of existing scientific publications and monographs issued by Mozambique’s Ministry of Health. Fifty-four plant species from 32 botanical families are documented, with 2 identified only by vernacular name. The plants are primarily used for neurological impairments (39 species), followed by mental disorders (9 species), and visual and physical impairments (5 species each). No species were documented for hearing or speech disabilities. Senna petersiana is identified as the most frequently cited species. Preparations include both single-species and multispecies mixtures, with leaves and roots being the most employed plant parts. Administration routes are varied, encompassing oral ingestion, topical application, ocular exposure, vapor inhalation, therapeutic baths, and, in some instances, tattooing. There are critical gaps in traditional practices, notably the absence of standardized dosage protocols and safety guidelines, which pose potential risks including toxicity, preparation contamination, and infections from invasive procedures. While most plant species are native and listed as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Justicia flava is classified as “Vulnerable” and facing population decline. This entry serves as a crucial repository of Mozambican cultural heritage and establishes a foundational framework for future scientific inquiry. Subsequent research should prioritize the pharmacological validation, toxicological screening, and phytochemical analysis of the most consistently reported species. Such studies are essential to evaluate their therapeutic potential and inform their possible integration into evidence-based public health strategies for disability management.