Ethnobotanical Evidence of Medicinal Plants Used for Peptic Ulcers in Tanzania: A Systematic Review.

Medicinal plants (MPs) are essential to rural communities in low- and middle-income countries. However, knowledge of the use of MPs for peptic ulcer disease (PUD) in Tanzania remains limited. This review aims to document the traditional knowledge and MPs used by Tanzanians to treat and manage PUD. A comprehensive search was conducted across databases and grey literature, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data from 26 ethnobotanical studies were analysed using descriptive statistics (means, graphs and charts) in Microsoft Excel. Overall, 101 MPs from 44 botanical families have been traditionally used to treat and manage PUD in Tanzania. Asteraceae (10.8%) and Fabaceae (9.6%) were the most diverse families. In terms of life forms, trees account for 40% of the documented plants, followed by herbs at 39%. The most commonly used plant parts are leaves (40%) and roots (32%). Decoction (58%) is the most common method for preparing these remedies, with oral administration as the primary route. The most frequently cited MPs include Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. (Anacardiaceae), Dichrocephala integrifolia (L.f.). Kuntze (Asteraceae), Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae), Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. (Sapindaceae) and Cissus rotundifolia Lam. (Vitaceae). Of the recorded MPs, 32 have been validated for antiulcerogenic activity and should advance to standardised formulations, dosage optimisation and clinical trials to enable integration into modern, evidence-based healthcare. Conversely, this study recommends that unvalidated MPs be systematically studied for efficacy and safety to ensure that culturally rooted remedies are evidence-based and safely integrated into contemporary healthcare.