Alfred Maroyi et al /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol. 11(8), 2019, 2942-2948 A review of botany, medicinal uses and biological activities of Berkheya setifera DC. (Asteraceae) Alfred Maroyi Medicinal Plants and Economic Development (MPED) Research Centre, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa Abstract Berkheya setifera is a well-known plant species in southern Africa in traditional and folk medicine. This study is aimed at providing a critical review of the botany, biological activities and medicinal uses of B. setifera. Documented information on botany, biological activities and medicinal uses of B. setifera was collected from several online sources which included BMC, Scopus, SciFinder, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Elsevier, Pubmed and Web of Science. Additional information on the botany, biological activities and medicinal uses of B. setifera was sourced from book chapters, books, journal articles, theses and scientific publications sourced from the University of Fort Hare library. The current study showed that the leaves and roots of B. setifera are traditionally used in 60% of the countries where the species is indigenous. Berkheya setifera is used as herbal medicine for 28 human diseases which include abdominal pains, arthritis, blood circulatory problems, colds, coughs, itching skin and rash, jaundice, kidney problems, magical uses, stomach complaints, sterility and uterine disorders. Pharmacological research revealed that B. setifera extracts have antibacterial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, haemolysis, antifungal and cytotoxicity properties. Future studies should concentrate on assessing the phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological activities of B. setifera crude extracts as well as chemical ingredients isolated from the species. Keywords: Berkheya setifera, Compositae, herbal medicine, indigenous pharmacopeia, pharmacology, phytochemistry INTRODUCTION Taxonomy and botanical description of Berkheya Berkheya setifera DC. is a perennial herbaceous plant setifera belonging to Compositae or the Asteraceae family. Research by Phaliso et al.8 revealed that genus Berkheya Berkheya setifera together with other related species such Ehrhart consisting of about 80 species is paraphyletic with as B. echinacea (Harv.) O.Hoffm. and Burtt-Davy subsp. the related genera Cullumia R.Br. ex Aiton (15 species), echinacea, B. rhapontica (DC.) Hutch. ex Burtt-Davy Cuspidia Gaertner (one species), Didelta L'Héritier de subsp. aristosa (DC.) Roessler var. aristosa, B. multijuga Brutelle (two species) and Heterorhachis Walpers (two (DC.) Roessler, B. seminivea Harv. & Sond., B. speciosa species) embedded within a broad and large taxonomic (DC.) Hoffm., B. subulata Harv., B. umbellata DC. and B. clade referred to as the ‘Berkheya clade’. This group of zeyheri (Sond. & Harv.) Oliv. Hiern are widely used as plants require some taxonomic revision aimed at merging herbal medicines in south-central Africa.1-4 The different these different genera as supported by both molecular and parts of B. setifera are applied in indigenous herbal morphological studies. The genus name “Berkheya” is in practices against fever, malaria, skin diseases, sexually- honour of a Dutch naturalist, biologist, painter and poet transmitted infections, gastro-intestinal disorders, Johannes Le Francq Van Berkhey (1729 - 1812).9 inflammatory, respiratory and reproductive problems.1-4 Synonyms associated with B. setifera include B. setifera Traditional medicines are regarded as an important source (DC.) L. var. tropica S.Moore, Crocodilodes harveyanum of natural products required for pharmaceutical drugs and Kuntze and C. setiferum (DC.) Kuntze.10-12 The English other health promoting products.5-7 Several pharmaceutical common names of the species are buffalo-tongue drugs and their derivatives that are in current use today are berkheya, buffalo-tongue thistle and ox tongue. The other plant-derived and traditional medicines have historically vernacular names include rasperdissel and proven to be invaluable sources of phytochemical rasperdisseldoring (Afrikaans), lelelemla-khomo and molecules with the necessary therapeutic potential.6,7 Such ntsoantsane (Southern Sotho), indlebe-lenkomo and well-known examples of plant-derived medicines include umhlondlo (Xhosa), ikhakhasi, ulimi-iwenkomo and aspirin, atropine, cocaine, codeine, morphine, quinine and ulimi-iwenyathi (Zulu).12-15 reserpine.5 But there is lack of detailed information on the botany, medicinal uses and active ingredients of plants that Berkheya setifera is a perennial herb which grows up to a are used as herbal medicines. For medicinal plants that height of 60 cm to 120 cm.11 The erect, single, annual, have been incorporated into traditional materia medica to glabrous or thinly hairy stems, branching in the upper part be appreciated and understood by the wider scientific arise from a stout woody rootstock. The leaves are community, there is need for formal documentation of oblanceolate to obovate in shape and mostly basal with such species given the fragility of oral-tradition knowledge some smaller leaves along the stem.10 Both the upper and associated with herbal medicines. It is against this lower leaf surfaces have straw-coloured spiny and coarse background that this study was undertaken aimed at bristles. The leaf margins are entire or slightly lobed and appraising the botany, medicinal uses and biological lamina base clasping the stems. The flowers are solitary on activities of B. setifera. the stems and branches or rarely several more or less clustered and bright yellow in colour. Berkheya setifera 2942 Alfred Maroyi et al /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol. 11(8), 2019, 2942-2948 has been recorded in Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, problems, magical uses, stomach complaints, sterility and South Africa and Mozambique.10 The species has been uterine disorders (Table 1). In Lesotho, the roots of B. recorded in sub-montane grassland, bracken scrubland and setifera are mixed with those of Dicoma anomala Sond. as along road sides at an altitude which range from 460 m to remedy for biliousness and jaundice16 while leaves and 2135 m above the sea level.10 roots are combined with roots of Rumex lanceolatus Thunb. as remedy for female sterility.17,18 Previous Medicinal uses of Berkheya setifera research findings by Dzerefos et al.19 showed that B. The leaves and roots of B. setifera are utilized as herbal setifera is among the top 20 ranking medicinal plants in medicines in 60% of the countries where the taxon is the Limpopo province of South Africa and unfortunately, indigenous (Table 1). Berkheya setifera is used as herbal the taxon is now difficult to find in the province. Research medicines for 28 human diseases (Table 1). The major by Fox and Norwood20 and Welcome and Van Wyk21 diseases recorded in a minimum of two countries include showed that the leaves of B. setifera are cooked as leafy abdominal pains, arthritis, blood circulatory problems, vegetables in South Africa. colds, coughs, itching skin and rash, jaundice, kidney Table 1: Medicinal uses of Berkheya setifera Medicinal use Parts of the plant used Country References Lesotho and South Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk1; Kose et Abdominal pains Leaves and roots Africa al.15; Pooley22 Lesotho and South Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk1; Kose et Arthritis Leaves and roots Africa al.15; Schmitz23 Roots mixed Dicoma anomala Biliousness Lesotho Moffett12; Maroyi16 Sond. Lesotho and South Blood circulatory problems Roots Moffett12; Moteetee and Van Wyk14 Africa Blood detoxification Roots South Africa Zukulu et al.24 Boils Roots Swaziland Sibandze25 Burns Roots Swaziland Sibandze25 Cleanses blood Leaves and roots Lesotho Moteetee and Van Wyk14 Lesotho and South Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk1; Moteetee Colds Leaves and roots Africa and Van Wyk14 Lesotho and South Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk1; Moteetee Coughs Leaves and roots Africa and Van Wyk14; Maliehe26 Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk1; Kose et Herpes Leaves and roots Lesotho al.15 Itching skin and rash Leaves and roots Lesotho and Swaziland Sibandze25; Mugomeri et al.27 Roots mixed Dicoma anomala Jaundice Lesotho Moffett12; Maroyi16 Sond. Lesotho and South Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk1; Kose et Jaundice Leaves and roots Africa al.15 Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk1; Kose et Kidney problems Leaves and roots Lesotho and Swaziland al.15 Lymphatic filariasis Roots South Africa Komoreng et al.28 Magical uses (good luck Lesotho and South Roots Moteetee et al.29 charm) Africa Menstrual pains Roots South Africa Zukulu et al.24 Otitis media Roots Swaziland Sibandze25 Pregnancy complications Leaves and roots Lesotho Kose et al.15; Moteetee and Kose18 Reduces mother-child HIV Leaves and roots Lesotho Kose et al.15; Kose et al.30 transmission Respiratory infections Leaves and roots Lesotho Moteetee and Van Wyk14 Sores Leaves and roots Lesotho Moteetee and Van Wyk14 Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk1; Long13; Lesotho, South Africa Stomach complaints Leaves and roots Moteetee and Van Wyk14; Dlamini31; and Swaziland Amusan32 Lesotho, South Africa Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk1; Moteetee Sterility Leaves and roots and Swaziland and Van Wyk14; Amusan et al.33 Leaves and roots mixed with Watt and Brandwijk17; Moteetee and Sterility Lesotho Rumex lanceolatus Thunb. Kose18 Toothache Leaves and roots Swaziland Sibandze25; Amusan et al.34 Ulcers Leaves and roots Lesotho Moteetee and Van Wyk14 Uterine disorders Leaves and roots Lesotho and Swaziland Kose et al.15; Sibandze25 2943 Alfred Maroyi et al /J. Pharm.