Ethnopharmacology and Therapeutic Value of Clematis brachiata Thunb. (Family: Ranunculaceae): A Narrative Review

Alfred Maroyi

Clematis brachiata Thunb. is a widely recognized medicinal plant commonly utilized across tropical Africa. This review consolidates information on the medicinal applications and pharmacological activities of C. brachiata. Data regarding its traditional uses and ethnopharmacological significance were sourced from various platforms, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect^®, Scopus^®, SpringerLink^®, PubMed^® and SciELO, as well as older printed literature available in the university library. The findings highlight the use of different parts of C. brachiata, such as branches, flowers, leaf juice, leaves, root bark, roots, shoots, stem bark, stems and the entire plant, for various purposes. These include serving as a vermifuge, in charms and rituals and traditional remedies for conditions like back pain, eye disorders, fever, febrile illnesses, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, malaria, respiratory problems, skin infections, snakebites, sexually transmitted infections and sores. Chemical compounds identified from C. brachiata include tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids and cardiac glycosides. The crude extracts of C. brachiata flowers, leaves, roots, root bark, stems and whole plants exhibited acaricidal, analgesic, antihelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antileishmanial, antioxidant, antiplasmodial and antipyretic activities. Future studies should focus on detailed ethnopharmacological evaluation of C. brachiata, particularly its phytochemistry, pharmacological properties and toxicological evaluations, in vivo and clinical research.

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