Gahamanyi, N. Munyaneza, E. Dukuzimana, E. Tuyiringire, N. Pan, C.-H. Komba, E.V.G. 2024-01-19T13:33:22Z 2024-01-19T13:33:22Z 2022-01-10 2021-10 2079-6382 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/116298 Diarrhea, often caused by microorganisms, has been associated with high morbidity and mortality in Africa. Increased rates of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens have reignited the quest for alternative therapies. This review aimed at identifying medicinal plants used in the treatment of human diarrheal cases in Rwanda and analyzing their ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, and phy-tochemistry. We searched PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and the Web of Science for published articles on medicinal plants used to treat diarrhea in Rwanda. Additionally, special-ized herbarium documents of different institutes were reviewed. Articles were assessed for rele-vance, quality, and taxonomical accuracy before being included in this review. Overall, 63 species of medicinal plants belonging to 35 families were recorded. Asteraceae was the predominant family with six species, followed by Fabaceae and Lamiaceae, with five species each. The most reported species with anti-diarrheal properties were Vernonia amygdalina Delile, Tetradenia riparia (Hochst.) Codd, Clerodendrum myricoides R. Br., and Chenopodium ugandae (Aellen) Aellen. Leaves (66.7%) and roots (17.5%) were the commonly used plant parts in the preparation of medicine. Phytochemicals from medicinal plants with antidiarrheic activities were sesquiterpene lactones (V. amygdalina); terpene, sterols, saponosides, and flavonoids (C. ugandae); saponins and tannins (T. riparia); and tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids (C. myricoides). Six studies tested the antimicrobial activities of the plants against bacteria and viruses known to cause diarrhea. Erythrina abyssinica, Euphorbia tir-ucalli, Dracaena afromontana, and Ficus thonningii are socio-culturally important. Further research on toxicity and posology is needed to ensure the safety of medicinal plants. ？ 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. English MDPI Ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, and phytochemistry of medicinal plants used for treating human diarrheal cases in rwanda: A review Article 10.3390/antibiotics10101231 1 Antibiotics, v.10, no.10 Antibiotics 10 10 N scie scopus 000713802200001 2-s2.0-85117381067 Infectious Diseases Pharmacology & Pharmacy Infectious Diseases Pharmacology & Pharmacy Review alkaloid flavonoid saponin sterol tannin terpene Acanthaceae Amaranthaceae Anacardiaceae antibacterial activity antimicrobial activity Asteraceae diarrhea dysentery Erythrina Escherichia coli ethnobotany ethnopharmacology Euphorbiaceae Fabaceae Gymnanthemum amygdalinum human Lamiaceae Malvaceae medicinal plant Myrtaceae phytochemistry Polygonaceae Review Rubiaceae Rwanda traditional medicine Diarrhea Dysentery Phytochemicals Rwanda Socio-culture Traditional medicine