Imagine a secret green garden filled with plants that can cure your diseases. For thousands of years, people have acknowledged the healing power of plants. And have used them to create various remedies. Even today, many of our medicines are plant-based,turning plants into our small health heroes!

Take the bark of the Cinchona spp  tree, for instance.It yields quinine, a strong medicine to fight malaria. Artemisia annua provides artemisinin, another essential compound. Even today, many of our medicines are plant-based, a testament to the remarkable abilities of these natural healers.

Now, let’s talk about some of the deadliest diseases worldwide according to WHO: lower respiratory infections, HIV, diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis, and malaria. These health threats cause immense suffering and claim millions of lives each year. Sadly, most of these deaths occur in developing countries, to be specific, African countries.

But this is where medicinal plants come in to help us. They offer hope in the fight against these diseases. People turn to plants for relief in places where modern healthcare is scarce. These plants don’t just combat infectious diseases; they also help manage conditions like diabetes.

My work revolves around exploring the hidden powers of medicinal plants. I delve into their antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, and antiviral properties. Let’s take HIV, for example—a serious virus, especially prevalent in Africa. Opportunistic infections (OIs) strike harder in people with weakened immune systems due to HIV. These opportunistic infections are a major cause of illness and death among HIV/AIDS patients, especially  in poorer countries.

Guess what? People living with HIV/AIDS often turn to herbal medicines. These plants help manage opportunistic infections and boost their immune systems. Some medicinal plants even directly combat both HIV-1 and HIV-2. But here’s the twist: much of this knowledge remains hidden and not yet explored.

In 2020, we conducted a study in Uganda. Our mission? To document the traditional indigenous knowledge and practices associated with the management of HIV/AIDS infections by herbalists. We searched  the land, capturing the wisdom of herbalists. We documented 236 medicinal plant species from 70 families and 201 genera. Among these, the genus Acacia stood out as the most widely represented, with five species. Some of the plant species were used for treating most of the OI.. 

We found out that despite geographical distances, Ugandan herbalists agreed on which plants to use for different opportunistic infections. Although the herbalists relied on biomedical laboratory diagnoses for confirming the patients’ HIV  status, they were familiar with the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS. But a word of caution: improper use of these plants can harm patients. Some practices, like injecting herbs, raise eyebrows. And what about combining herbs with antiretroviral (ARV) drugs? It’s a delicate balance. Mistakes can cause wrong ARV doses or make people stop their treatment.

Speaking of ARVs, they’re vital in managing HIV. However, using them alongside herbal medicines requires care. Incorrect dosages and herb-drug interactions pose risks. 

But here’s the exciting part: by studying these common medicinal plants, we might uncover new treatments—not just for HIV but other diseases too. Plus, cultivating these plants can create jobs and strengthen communities. So, let’s celebrate the power of plants—they’re not just green; they’re life-changing!

 Anywar Godwin, Cohort 6

Lecturer, Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences/ School of Biosciences, Makerere University