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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a prevalent, multifactorial and complex disease that is associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes and other major cardiovascular complications. The rise in the global prevalence of MetS has been attributed to genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. The adoption of sedentary lifestyles that are characterized by low physical activity and the consumption of high-energy diets contributes to MetS development. Current management criteria for MetS risk factors involve changes in lifestyle and the use of pharmacological agents that target specific biochemical pathways involved in the metabolism of nutrients. Pharmaceutical drugs are usually expensive and are associated with several undesirable side effects. Alternative management strategies of MetS risk factors involve the use of medicinal plants that are considered to have multiple therapeutic targets and are easily accessible. Medicinal plants contain several different biologically active compounds that provide health benefits.
Family Name |
Species Name |
Common Name |
Plant Part Used |
Methods of Herbal Material Preparation |
Mode of Action |
Active Constituents |
References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apiacaea |
Foeniculum vulgare Mill |
Fennel |
Seeds |
The seeds are processed into powder which can be taken as an infusion |
Reduces oxidative stress, inhibits serotonin reuptake, promotes a decrease in fat and sugar absorption |
Phytoestrogens, dipentene |
[8] |
Apocynaceae |
Gymnema sylvestre R. Br |
Gimena |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make an infusion taken orally |
Inhibits glucose absorption and fatty acid accumulation |
Gymnemic acids |
|
Apocynaceae |
Hoodia gordonii (Masson) |
Kalahari cactus |
Stem |
Tender stems are eaten fresh or dried and milled. Often processed into capsules |
Appetite suppressant targets adipose and muscle tissues reduces calorie intake |
Oxypregnane steroidal glycoside P57 |
[11] |
Asphodelaceae |
Aloe ferox Miller |
Cape Aloe |
Leaves |
Leaves are taken as decoctions |
Combats water retention |
[12] |
|
Asphodelaceae |
Aloe vera Mille |
Aloe vera |
Leaves |
Leaves are taken as decoctions |
Improves carbohydrate metabolism and reduces obesity-induced glucose intolerance |
Aloe sterols |
|
Asteraceae |
Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. |
Dandelion |
Leaves |
Leaves are taken as decoctions |
Inhibits pancreatic lipase |
Caffeic and chlorogenic acid |
|
Cannabaceae. |
Cannabis sativa L. |
Marijuana |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make an infusion taken orally |
Psychoactive rapid and long-lasting downregulation of CB1R causes reduction of energy storage and increases metabolic rates |
Cannabinoids |
|
Cucurbitaceae |
Cucumis africanus L.f. |
Scarlet gourd |
Whole plant |
The plant is used to make an infusion taken orally |
Weight loss |
Flavonoids |
|
Cucurbitaceae |
Kedrostis africana (L.) Cogn. |
Baboon′s cucumber |
tuber |
The tuber is used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase inhibitory activities |
Luteolin and kaempferol |
[22] |
Curtisiaceae |
Curtisia dentata (Burm.f.) C.A. Sm. |
Assega |
Bark |
The bark is used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Weight loss |
[17] |
|
Fabaceae |
Acacia mearnsii De Wild |
Black wattle |
Bark |
The bark is used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Increases energy expenditure in skeletal muscle and decreases fatty acid synthesis |
Proanthocyanidins, |
|
Lamiaceae |
Rosmarinus officinalis L. |
Rosemary |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Reduces body fluid |
Carnosic acid |
[25] |
Menispermaceae |
Cissampelos capensis L.f. |
David root |
Roots |
The root is used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Stimulates body energy |
[17] |
|
Moringaceae |
Moringa oleifera Lam. |
Moringa |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Lowers body weight, total cholesterol, triglycerides, organ weight, and blood glucose level, promotes energy expenditure |
Quercetin-3-O-β-dglucoside |
|
Poaceae |
Coix lacryma-jobi L. |
Job’s tears |
Seeds |
The seeds are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Neuroendocrine activity downregulation of adipogenesis |
[29] |
|
Polygonaceae |
Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Spach. |
Water pepper |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make infusions which are taken orally |
Combats adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells |
Isoquercitrin |
[30] |
Family Name |
Scientific Name |
Local Name and Region Where Used |
Plant Part Used |
Methods of Herbal Material Preparation |
Mechanisms |
Scientific Model Used |
Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aizoaceae |
Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E. Br |
- |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[32] |
Alliaceae |
Allium sativum L. fam. |
Garlic (English) Ivimbampunzi (IsiXhosa) Ikonofile (IsiZulu); Eastern Cape |
Whole plants |
The different parts are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic; reduces proteinuria |
STZ-treated rats |
[33] |
Amaryllidaceae |
Gethyllis namaquensis (Schönland) Oberm. |
Naka tsa tholo; Limpopo Province |
Bulbs |
Aqueous extract which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[32] |
Anacampserotaceae |
Anacampseros ustulata E.Mey. ex Fenzl |
Igwele (IsiXhosa); Eastern Cape |
Corms |
- |
- |
[34] |
|
Anacardiaceae |
Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich) Hochst. Subsp caffra |
Cider/Marula (English) Maroela (Afrikaans) Umganu (Zulu) |
Bark |
The bark is used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Reduces blood glucose, increases insulin levels |
STZ-treated rats |
|
Apocynaceae |
Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don |
Madagascar periwinkle |
Leaves, whole plants |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
Increased expression of GLUT-2 and GLUT4 transporter gene expression in the liver Hypoglycemic; hypolipidemic; increases the activity of glycolytic pathway enzymes; activates nuclear peroxisome proliferator and hence regulates gene expression in metabolic pathways; upregulates glucokinase activity |
STZ-treated rats; alloxan-treated rats; in vitro enzyme assays; alloxan-treated rabbits cultured human cells |
|
Apocynaceae |
Plumeria obtusa L. |
Mohlare wa maswi wa sukiri; Limpopo Province |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[32] |
Araliaceae |
Cussonia spicata Thunb. |
Limpopo Province |
Roots |
The root bark is used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[32] |
Asphodelaceae |
Aloe ferox Mill |
Ikhala (IsiXhosa) Bitter Aloe (English); Eastern Cape |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
Hypoglycemic; increases insulin secretion |
STZ-treated rats |
|
Asphodelaceae |
Aloe marlothii A. Berger subsp. Marlothii |
- |
- |
- |
[32] |
||
Asphodelaceae |
Bulbine abyssinica A.Rich. |
Whole plants |
Different parts of the plant are used to make into a which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[42] |
|
Asphodelaceae |
Bulbine frutescens (L.) Willd. |
Ibhucu (IsiXhosa); Eastern Cape |
Roots |
The root is used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[43] |
Asphodelaceae |
Bulbine natalensis (Syn. B. latifolia) Mill. (L.f.) Roem. et Schult. |
Ibhucu (IsiXhosa); Eastern Cape |
Roots |
The root is used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[43] |
Asteraceae |
Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd. |
Umhlonyane (IsiXhosa) African wormwood |
Leaves, roots |
The roots are used to make a decoction; leaves are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects |
STZ-treated Wistar rats |
[44] |
Asteraceae |
Brachylaena discolor DC. |
Leaves, roots, and stems |
The roots are made into a decoction which is taken orally |
Inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase; increases glucose utilization in Chang liver cells, 3T3-L1, and C2C12 muscle cells |
In vitro enzyme assays; in vitro cultures of preadipocytes, hepatocytes, and muscle cells |
||
Asteraceae |
Callilepis laureola DC. |
Phela (Sepedi); Limpopo Province |
Roots |
The roots are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[32] |
Asteraceae |
Helichrysum caespititium (DC) Harv. |
Bokgatha/Mabjana/Mmeetse; Limpopo Province |
Whole plant |
The different parts are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[32] |
Asteraceae |
Helichrysum gymnocomum DC. var. acuminatum DC. |
Imphepho (Xhosa); Eastern Cape |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[32] |
Asteraceae |
Herichrysum odoratissimum L. |
Imphepho; Eastern Cape |
Whole plant |
The different parts are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[43] |
Asteraceae |
Herichrysum nudifolium L. |
Ichocholo; Eastern Cape |
Leaves, roots |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[43] |
Asteraceae |
- |
- |
Increases glucose uptake in Chang liver cells, 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes |
In vitro cultures of preadipocytes and hepatocytes |
[47] |
||
Asteraceae |
Tarchonanthus camphoratus L. |
Limpopo Province, Eastern Cape |
Roots, leaves/soft twigs |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
Increases glucose utilization in Chang liver cells and C2C12 muscle cells |
In vitro cultures of myocytes and hepatocytes |
[48] |
Asteraceae |
Herichrysum petiolare H & B.L. |
Imphepho; Eastern Cape |
Whole plant |
The different parts are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[43] |
Buddlejaceae |
Chilianthus olearaceus Burch. |
Umgeba (IsiXhosa); Eastern |
Leaves, and twigs |
The twigs are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[43] |
Cactaceae Opuntia |
ficusindica Mill. |
Motloro; Limpopo Province |
Roots |
The roots are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Hypoglycemic |
Type 2 diabetic patients; STZ-treated mice; alloxan-treated mice |
|
Caricaceae |
Carica papaya L. |
Mophopho; Limpopo Province |
Leaves, toots, seeds, pulp |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic; increases the regeneration of pancreatic β-cells and renal cuboidal cells; anti-atherogenic |
STZ-treated rats; alloxan-treated rats |
|
Caryophyllaceae |
Dianthus thunbergii S.S.Hooper forma thunbergii. |
Indlela-zimhlope |
Roots |
The roots are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[34] |
Celastraceae |
Elaeodendron transvaalense (Burtt Davy) R.H.Archer |
Venda, Limpopo |
Stembark |
The stem barks are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Increases glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes |
In vitro cultures of preadipocytes |
[47] |
Celastraceae |
Lauridia tetragona (L.f.) R.H.Archer |
Umdlavuza; Eastern Cape |
Barks |
- |
- |
[34] |
|
Cucurbitaceae |
Cucurbita pepo L. |
Intsunga (pumpkin leaves) Newcastle KZN |
Upper parts (leaves and stems) |
α-glucosidase activity in vitro |
In vitro enzyme assays |
[54] |
|
Cucurbitaceae |
Momordica balsamina L. |
Mothwatwa; Limpopo Province |
Roots |
- |
- |
[32] |
|
Cucurbitaceae |
Mormordica charantia L |
Monamelala; Limpopo Province |
Leaves, fruit |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic |
Diabetic patients; STZ-treated rodent models |
|
Ebenaceae |
Euclea undulata Thunb. |
Venda, Limpopo |
Rootbark |
The root bark is used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Increases glucose uptake in Chang liver cells, 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes, and C2C12 myocytes; inhibits α-glucosidase activity |
In vitro cultures of preadipocytes, myocytes, and hepatocytes; in vitro enzyme assays |
[47] |
Fabaceae |
Lessertia microphylla (Burch. Ex DC.)Goldblatt & J.C. Manning |
Mosapelo; Limpopo Province |
Roots |
The roots are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
- |
- |
[32] |
Fabaceae |
Senna alexandria Mill. |
Senna leaves; Newcastle KwaZulu-Natal |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
Inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity in vitro |
In vitro enzyme assays |
[54] |
Fabaceae |
Sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R.Br. |
Leaves, shoots |
Hypoglycemic, increases glucose uptake in muscle and adipose tissue |
STZ-treated rats |
[57] |
||
Hyacinthaceae |
Albuca setosa Jacq. |
Eastern Cape |
Corms |
[34] |
|||
Hyacinthaceae |
Hypoxis argentae L. |
Corms |
Increases glucose uptake in cultured L6 myotubes and HepG2 cells; increases pancreatic beta cell proliferation |
In vitro cultures of rat skeletal muscle cells, human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and |
[58] |
||
Hyacinthaceae |
Hypoxis colchicifolia Bak. |
Inongwe; Eastern Cape |
Corms |
- |
- |
[43] |
|
Hyacinthaceae |
Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch. & C. A |
African potato Inongwe; Eastern Cape |
Corms |
Hypoglycemic ethyl acetate extract inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity in vitro; acetone extract increases insulin release from cultured islet cells |
STZ-treated rats, in vitro enzyme assays; cultured Sprague Dawley rat pancreatic islet cells |
||
Hyacinthaceae |
Hypoxis iridifolia Baker Monna maledu; Limpopo Province |
Monna maledu; Limpopo Province |
- |
- |
[32] |
||
Lamiaceae |
Leonotis leonorus (L.) R.Br. |
wild dagga, lion′s ear, leonotis (Eng.); wildedagga, duiwelstabak (Afr); umfincafincane, umcwili, imunyane, utshwalabezinyoni (isiZulu) |
Whole plants |
The different parts are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic |
STZ-treated rats |
|
Loganiaceae |
Strychnos henningsii Gilg |
Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic; increases insulin sensitivity in 3T3- L1 cells |
STZ-treated rats; in vitro cultures of rat pre-adipocytes |
||||
Menispermaceae |
Cissampelo capensis L. |
Umayisake (IsiXhosa)/David root (English); Eastern Cape |
Roots |
The roots are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Improves glucose utilisation in 3T3- L1 cells |
In vitro cultures of preadipocytes |
|
Poaceae |
Cymbopogon citrutus Stapf |
Isiqunga (lemon grass); Newcastle KZN |
Whole plant |
The different parts are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity in vitro |
In vitro enzyme assays |
[54] |
Sapotaceae |
Mimusops zeyheri Sond. |
Mmupudu; Limpopo Province |
- |
- |
[32] |
||
Solanaceae |
Solanum aculeastrum Dunal |
Umtuma; Eastern Cape |
Roots |
The roots are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
[63] |
||
Stilbaceae |
Nuxia floribunda Benth. |
Umlulama (forest elder) Newcastle KZN |
Whole plant |
The different parts are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
α-glucosidase activity in vitro |
In vitro enzyme assays |
[54] |
Family Name |
Scientific Name |
Local Name and Region Where Used |
Plant Part Used |
Methods of Herbal Material Preparation |
Mechanisms |
Scientific Model Used |
Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asteraceae |
Helichrysum ceres |
Blombos straw flower (English); Izangume (Zulu) Northern Cape, Western Cape |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
Hypotensive |
Dahl salt-sensitive genetically hypertensive rats |
[70] |
Meliaceae |
Ekebergia capensis |
Cape ash, dogplum (English) Essenhout (Afrikaans); Mmidibidi (Nothern Sotho). Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
Hypotensive |
Streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats |
[71] |
Cactaceae |
Opuntia megacantha |
Sweet prickly-pear (English); turksvy (Afrikaans); itolofiya (Xhosa). Widely distributed in South Africa |
Fruit |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
Hypotensive |
Streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats |
[72] |
Amaryllidaceae |
Allium sativum |
Garlic (English), Knoffelhuisies (Afrikaans). Non-indigenous |
Cloves |
Cold-pressed extract |
Attenuation of structural nephropathy progression |
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats |
[73] |
Anacardiaceae |
Sclerocarya birrea |
Marula (English); Morula (Southern Sotho). KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make an infusion which is taken orally |
Phenolic compounds hypotensive |
In vitro analyses |
[74] |
Moraceae |
Ficus thonningii |
Giant-leaved fig (English); Reuseblaarvy (Afrikaans); Umvubu, Omkhulu (Zulu); Umthombe, uluzi (Xhosa), KwaZulu-Natal |
Stem bark |
Stem–bark aqueous extract |
Decrease in mean arterial pressure |
Anesthetized rat model |
[75] |
Oleaceae |
Olea europea |
Wild olive (English), Olienhout (Afrikaans); Mohlware (Nothern Sotho, Southern Sotho), Umnquma (Zulu, Xhosa, Swati). Widely distributed in South Africa |
Leaves |
The leaves are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
Diuretic, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-hypertensive effects |
Insulin-resistant genetic rodent models |
[76][77] |
Amaryllidaceae |
Tulbaghia violacea |
Wild garlic or society garlic (English), Wildeknoflok (Afrikaans); Utswelane (Xhosa); Incinsini (Zulu). Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo |
Leaves and flowers |
The leaves are used to make a decoction which is taken orally |
ACE inhibitors |
In vitro assays |
[78][79] |
ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme.
Family Name |
Scientific Name |
Local Name and Region Where Used |
Plant Part Used |
Methods of Herbal Material Preparation |
Mechanisms |
Scientific Model Used |
Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moringaceae |
Moringa oleifera |
Moringa, Drum stick tree (English) Limpopo province and Gauteng |
Aerial |
Leaf extracts |
Upregulation of hepatic lipid metabolism genes, suppression of pro-inflammatory pathways |
Diet-induced obesity models in rats, |
|
Fabaceae |
Aspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) R.Dahlgren |
Rooibos, red bush (English) Rooibostee, bossietee (Afrikaans) Fynbos, Northern and Western cape |
Aerial parts |
Aerial parts as tea, green or fermented |
Improved lipid metabolism in adipocytesinhibit hepatic insulin resistanceregulation of AMPK |
3T3-L adipocyte cell culture, obese insulin-resistant rats |
|
Apocynaceae |
Hoodia gordonii |
Bitter ghaap (English); Muishondghaap, wolweghaap, bergghaap, bokhorings (Afrikaans); khobab (Khoi) |
Aerial |
Appetite suppression, decrease adipocytes |
Obese rats |
[86] |
|
Fabaceae |
Sutherlandia frutescens |
Cancer bush (English), kankerbos (Afrikaans) Western cape |
Leaves |
Decoction, aqueous extracts |
Regulation of adipocytes and lipid metabolism |
3T3 cells and obese rats |
|
Asphodelaceae |
Aloe vera |
Aloe (English); Aalwyn (Afrikaans); Hlaba, Lekhala (Southern Sotho); Icena (Ndebele); Imboma (Zulu). Widely distributed in South Africa |
Leaves |
Gel extract |
Phytosterols, decrease hepatic lipid accumulation |
Zucker obese rats |
[14] |
Cactaceae |
Opuntia ficus-indica (L) Mill |
Prickly pear (English), Limpopo province |
Fruit |
Seed extracts |
Decrease inflammation, prevent steatosis |
High-fat fed rats |
[88] |
Myrtaceae |
Syzigium aromaticum |
Clove (English), Naeltjies (Afrikaans). Non-indigenous, grown as ornamental tree |
Cloves |
Cold-pressed extract (oleanolic acid) |
Developmental programming Regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism pathways |
High-fructose-fed rats |
[89] |