Abstract Childhood diseases represent a sizeable proportion of mortality burden that could potentially be alleviated when effectively managed. In South Africa, the use of medicinal plants against different diseases and for the general well-being in children is enriched in the culture of different ethnic groups. However, the potential associated with this aspect of traditional medicine remain understudied and poorly-explored. This review critically assessed the existing knowledge on the use of plants for the management of childhood diseases and well-being in South Africa. Information regarding plants used for childhood diseases were obtained from different scientific databases and ethnobotanical books. A total of 194 plants from 66 families have been documented as remedies for childhood diseases and well-being across 7 provinces in South Africa. Rhoicissus tridentata, Gomphocarpus fruticosus, Vachellia karroo and Kigelia africana were among the most popular plants based on the number of mentions (3–4) in the assessed literature. Furthermore, Agathosma capensis, Bidens pilosa, Peltophorum africanum and Microglossa mespilifolia were among the most versatile plants with high (> 5) number of uses against different conditions in children. The plant families mostly represented (each with 11–33 plants) included Asteraceae, Leguminosae, Solanaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae. The majority of the plants were used against non-infectious diseases (and general well-being), while others had applications against infectious diseases such as colds/influenza and tuberculosis. In terms of conservation status, the majority (84%) of the plants were reported to be of ‘least concern’, 12% were ‘invasive alien species (lacking conservation status in the Red List of South African Plants), while 4% (rare, near threatened and endangered) remain of a high conservation concern. Evidence from the limited ethnobotanical surveys reveal the importance of medicinal plants for the management and treatment of diverse health conditions in children. The absence of plant inventory for some of the provinces and ethnic groups in South Africa requires urgent attention due to the possible loss of such valuable indigenous knowledge over-time. In addition, the absence of the specific medicinal uses for a significant portion of the plants remained a major challenge that need to be addressed in future research endeavours.

中文翻译：

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南非用于管理和治疗儿童疾病和福祉的植物的民族植物学审查

摘要 儿童疾病占死亡负担的很大一部分，如果得到有效管理，可能会减轻。在南非，不同种族群体的文化丰富了使用药用植物治疗不同疾病和促进儿童整体健康。然而，与传统医学这方面相关的潜力仍未得到充分研究和探索。这篇综述批判性地评估了关于使用植物来管理南非儿童疾病和福祉的现有知识。有关用于儿童疾病的植物信息来自不同的科学数据库和民族植物学书籍。南非 7 个省共有来自 66 个家庭的 194 种植物被记录为治疗儿童疾病和福祉的药物。根据评估文献中的提及次数 (3-4)，Rhoicissus tridentata、Gomphocarpus fruticosus、Vachellia karroo 和 Kigelia Africana 是最受欢迎的植物。此外，Agathosma capensis、Bidens pilosa、Peltophorum Africanum 和 Microglossa mespilifolia 是用途最广泛的植物，在儿童的不同条件下具有高 (> 5) 种用途。主要代表的植物科（每个科有 11-33 株）包括菊科、豆科、茄科、天门冬科和黄花科。大多数植物用于对抗非传染性疾病（和一般健康），而其他植物则用于对抗传染性疾病，如感冒/流感和肺结核。就保护状况而言，据报道，大多数 (84%) 植物是“最不受关注的”，12% 是“外来入侵物种（在南非植物红色名录中缺乏保护地位），而 4%（稀有、近危和濒危）仍然受到高度保护。来自有限民族植物学调查的证据揭示了药用植物对管理和治疗儿童各种健康状况的重要性。由于这些宝贵的本土知识可能会随着时间的推移而丢失，南非一些省份和族群缺乏植物库存需要紧急关注。此外，大部分植物缺乏特定的药用用途仍然是未来研究工作中需要解决的主要挑战。近危和濒危）仍然是高度保护关注的问题。来自有限民族植物学调查的证据揭示了药用植物对管理和治疗儿童各种健康状况的重要性。由于这些宝贵的本土知识可能会随着时间的推移而流失，南非一些省份和族群缺乏植物库存需要紧急关注。此外，大部分植物缺乏特定的药用用途仍然是未来研究工作中需要解决的主要挑战。近危和濒危）仍然是高度保护关注的问题。来自有限民族植物学调查的证据揭示了药用植物对管理和治疗儿童各种健康状况的重要性。由于这些宝贵的本土知识可能会随着时间的推移而丢失，南非一些省份和族群缺乏植物库存需要紧急关注。此外，大部分植物缺乏特定的药用用途仍然是未来研究工作中需要解决的主要挑战。由于这些宝贵的本土知识可能会随着时间的推移而丢失，南非一些省份和族群缺乏植物库存需要紧急关注。此外，大部分植物缺乏特定的药用用途仍然是未来研究工作中需要解决的主要挑战。由于这些宝贵的本土知识可能会随着时间的推移而流失，南非一些省份和族群缺乏植物库存需要紧急关注。此外，大部分植物缺乏特定的药用用途仍然是未来研究工作中需要解决的主要挑战。