Abstract

Ethnopharmacology is now being integrated into the mainstream medicine all over the world including South Africa due to the increasing popularity of medicinal plants in the treatment of various infections. Several plants have been used in various communities for the treatment of various diseases. Curtisia dentata a medicinal plant is among the most commonly used medicinal plants in South Africa; the plant is used in the treatment of diarrhea amongst other diseases. There is dearth in information in its antimicrobial potentials as well as phytochemical and toxicological profiles. Investigation of antimicrobial potentials of C. dentata will lead to the discovery of chemical substances that can possibly be used in the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of infections such as diarrhea, candidiasis and other microbial infections.

Key words: Ethnopharmacology, South Africa, Curtisia dentata, diarrhea, toxicology, medicinal trade market.