From Traditional Usage to Pharmacological Evidence: Systematic Review of Gunnera perpensa L.

Table 2

Gunnera perpensa used as a single agent for various human and animal diseases and ailments in southern Africa.

Ethnomedicinal use	Plant parts used and administration	Country practised	References
Abdominal pain	Root decoction taken as tonic	South Africa	[24]
Bladder problems	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa	[29]
Bleeding stomach	Root decoction taken as tonic	South Africa	[22, 24]
Body cleansing	Leaves, root decoction taken orally	Lesotho; South Africa	[29, 53]
Boils	Leaves used as poultices	Lesotho	[43]
Cancer	Leaves, rhizome decoction or infusion taken orally	Lesotho; South Africa	[53, 78]
Colds	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa	[24, 79]
Constipation	Stem decoction taken orally	South Africa	[39]
Dysmenorrhoea	Root decoction taken orally	Lesotho; South Africa; Swaziland	[22, 24–26, 42–44, 63, 85]
Earache	Rhizome decoction applied topically	South Africa	[30]
Endometritis	Rhizome decoction taken orally	South Africa	[27]
Expel placenta after birth in humans and animals	Rhizome decoction taken orally	Lesotho; South Africa	[15, 18, 22, 24–26, 35]
Food	Leaves edible as leafy vegetables. Roots, stalks, and stems edible and used for making beer	South Africa; Swaziland	[40–42]
Gastrointestinal parasites	Rhizome decoction taken orally	Lesotho; South Africa	[28, 31, 37]
Gonorrhoea	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa	[32]
Headache	Leaves burnt and crushed and smoked, root decoction taken orally	Lesotho; South Africa	[43, 86]
Heart diseases	Root decoction taken orally	Lesotho	[33]
Hypertension	Root decoction taken orally	Lesotho	[33]
Impotence	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa; Swaziland	[16, 24, 42, 85]
Indigestion	Root decoction taken as tonic	South Africa	[24, 73]
Induce or augment labour and as antenatal medication	Rhizome decoction taken orally	South Africa	[22]
Infertility in women	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa	[29]
Kidney problems	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa	[29]
Poor appetite	Root decoction taken as tonic	South Africa	[24]
Psoriasis	Root infusions applied topically	South Africa	[22]
Pulmonary ailments	Rhizome decoction taken orally	South Africa	[73]
Rheumatic fever	Root decoction taken as tonic	South Africa	[22, 24]
Scabies	Root decoction taken as tonic	South Africa	[24]
Stimulate milk production	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa	[35]
Stomachache	Leaves, rhizome decoction taken orally	Lesotho; South Africa	[22, 53, 86]
Syphilis	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa	[32]
Swelling	Rhizome decoction applied topically	South Africa	[22]
Ticks and other parasites	Leaves and rhizome used as repellent	South Africa	[79]
Ulcers	Leaf decoction taken orally	South Africa	[73]
Urinary infections	Root decoction taken orally	South Africa	[32]
Urinary stones	Root tinctures	South Africa	[22]
Uterine bleeding	Root bark decoction taken orally	Swaziland	[87, 88]
Wound dressing	Leaves used as poultices, rhizome decoction applied as a dressing	Lesotho; South Africa	[16, 22, 24, 36, 43, 73]