Ethno-pharmacological activity of Ethiopian traditional medicine for the management of leukemia: A review

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the richest countries of plants species and the people are widely uses traditional medicine as primary health care. Leukemia prevalence is one of the three mostly presented cancer type in the country. However, traditional medicine practice, secrecy and scientific evaluation of medicinal plant not will understudy and complied. This study was to review published Ethno-pharmacological evidences of Ethiopian medicinal plants uses for the management of leukemia. A systematic literature search uses from: Google scholar, pub med and science direct data base were using a key word: hemato-protective activity, anti-leukemia, anti-proliferative activity, cytotoxicity. The present literature review revealed that about 92 Anti- Leukemiamedicinal plants species have been identified in Ethiopia. Among all plant species were reported for their traditional use to treat different types of Leukemia. However, 82 species were scientifically studied for their in vitro cytotoxic on human leukocyte 60 (HL-60) cell lines, acute monocytes leukemia cell line and free radical scavenging activities. The efficacy of most Ethiopian medicinal plant for the management of leukemia is not well understudy with scientific research. Screening of medicinal plants for anti-leukemia activity and other types of cancer provides a huge space for development of strong anticancer agents.