Ethnobotany, therapeutic value, phytochemistry and conservation status of Bowiea volubilis: A widely used bulbous plant in southern Africa.
BACKGROUND
Bowiea volubilis Harv. ex Hook.f. (Family: Asparagaceae) is a bulbous medicinal plant widely used against numerous ailments including headache, muscular pains, infertility, cystitis and venereal diseases in southern Africa.


OBJECTIVE
To provide a critical and updated review of Bowiea volubilis with regards to its abundance, medicinal importance, conservation status and potential means to sustain its availability for future generations.


METHODS
A comprehensive literature search using online databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus and Springerlink as well as ethnobotanical literature was done in order to obtain, collate, synthesize and critically analyze available information on Bowiea volubilis.


RESULTS
On the basis of its wide distribution in many Provinces in South Africa, Bowiea volubilis has a long history of applications among the different ethnic groups. These applications include its uses as purgatives and for the treatment or relief of microbial infections, skin disorders, pains and inflammation. Scientific validation of its diverse uses in traditional medicine has been demonstrated via antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and toxicity assays. Available results indicate a general poor antimicrobial activity especially with the bulb extracts while the anti-inflammatory activity appears promising. Phytochemical screenings revealed that Bowiea volubilis contains cardiac glycosides and related compounds while reports of other classes of compounds are unavailable. In line with its usage in traditional medicine, the majority of available studies on the species have focused on the use of different solvent extracts from the bulbs. The destructive harvesting of bulbs has led to a continuous decimation of wild populations. Consequently, there are increasing conservational concerns on the sustainability of this species for continuous supply to meet escalating demands.


CONCLUSIONS
Bowiea volubilis remains a widely used medicinal plant and available but limited scientific evidence indicates its anti-inflammatory potential. The abundance of cardiac glycosides in its phytochemical composition provides an indication on the therapeutic potential. More research efforts including the application of different biotechnological techniques are still required in order to guarantee its sustainable use over time.
Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
Adeyemi O
AO
Aremu
Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
Mack
M
Moyo
Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Agricultural Research Council, Roodeplaat Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
Stephen O
SO
Amoo
Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa. Electronic address: rcpgd@ukzn.ac.za.
Johannes
J
Van Staden
D000353:Africa, Southern / Q000208:ethnology; D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D019448:Ethnobotany / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D019668:Liliaceae; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts
Asparagaceae; Bioactivity; Biotechnology; Cardiac glycosides; Conservation; Micropropagation