Common plants used in the treatment of typhoid fever, their active components and toxicity related issues: A review

Abstract

Plants and their extracts are a primary source of health care in most communities. The usage of plants in the treatment of diseases has been observed in ancient times and still applicable in the present. Plants extracts are used due to their easy availability and affordability. Some of these extracts are being sold locally in markets while others manufactured and used in household settings. Most often, the producers of these extracts do not show proof of safety and efficacy before marketing these products. Consequently, the negative effects and the downside following the consumption of these products remain unknown. Moreover, the plant extracts are not regulated for purity and potency. Impurities present and the potency of the plant products might also contribute significantly to adverse effects following consumption. Typhoid fever has been one of the disease in which most developing countries especially in Africa, resort to the usage of traditional methods involving plant extracts in its treatment. Various research carried out have documented the anti-typhoid activity of these extracts on the basis of zone of inhibition against the pathogen. There is however scarcity of information on the bioactive components possessed by these plants. This paper reviews the common plants used in the treatment of typhoid fever, active components and risk following their indiscriminate usage. The review is composed by literature search on herbal plants for typhoid fever obtained from PubMed and Google Scholar. Knowledge of these active components will help effectively standardize the safe dose needed in the disease treatment