Phytochemistry of Zulu medicinal plants

In South Africa, the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot is an important center of plant endemism, and the second richest floristic region in Africa after the Cape Floristic Region. In total, about 8,100 species of plants from 243 families occur within this hotspot, and nearly a quarter of these, at least 1 900 species, are endemic to the area. The Zulu people, who live within this biodiversity hotspot, has a long history of medicinal plant use. In our research, we investigate the chemistry and activity of indigenous medicinal plants, with the focus on plants that are used for illnesses of importance in Africa, i.e. infectious diseases and diabetes. In this contribution, a short overview will be given on important Zulu medicinal plants. In a specific example, the structure and antiplasmodial activity of metabolites of the African fever tree (Vachellia xanthophloea) will be presented. Several flavonoids were isolated, with the most active compound being tri-O-methylgallic acid.