SynthesisBMC complementary medicine and therapies2020
African potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea): a systematic review of its chemistry, pharmacology and ethno medicinal properties.
Synthesis in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 28 citations in OpenAlex.
- African Medicinal Plants Targeting Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC): A Systematic Review of Ethnobotanical Surveys, Phytochemistry and Anti-TNBC Studies.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for Cancer Treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- African Medicinal Plants in Cutaneous Wound Repair: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Role of Phytochemicals.International wound journal · 2025Review
- Medicinal plants trade in Harare's urban markets: diversity, conservation status, and economic significance.Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine · 2025Article
- In Vitro Pharmacological Activity, and Comparison GC-ToF-MS Profiling of Extracts fromLife (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Potential pharmacokinetic interactions with concurrent use of herbal medicines and a ritonavir-boosted COVID-19 protease inhibitor in low and middle-income countries.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2023Review
- An Inventory of South African Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Sexually Transmitted and Related Opportunistic Infections: An Appraisal and Some Scientific Evidence (1990-2020).Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Scalable Synthesis and Cancer Cell Cytotoxicity of Rooperol and Analogues.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Plant-Derived Nutraceuticals and Immune System Modulation: An Evidence-Based Overview.Vaccines · 2020Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAfrican Potato (hypoxis hemerocallidea), is used for enhancing immune system in Southern Africa. It is among the plants of intense commercial and scientific interest; hence, the aim of this study was to describe its chemistry and pharmacology.
methodsPubMed, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL) and Google Scholar were searched independently for relevant literature. The last search occurred in October 2018. Other research material was obtained from Google. The following search terms were used, but not limited to: "African Potato", "hypoxis", "hemerocallidea", "rooperol." Articles that were explaining the chemistry and pharmacology of hypoxis hemerocallidea were included.
resultsThirty articles from PubMed, Cochrane and Google Scholar were eligible. Three webpages were included from Google. Results showed that the tuberous rootstock (corm) of African Potato is used traditionally to treat wasting diseases, testicular tumours, insanity, barrenness, impotency, bad dreams, intestinal parasites, urinary infection, cardiac disease and enhancing immunity. The plant contains hypoxoside, which is converted rapidly to a potent antioxidant, rooperol in the gut. The corm contains sterols, sterol glycosides, stanols, terpenoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, tannins and reducing sugars. A dose of 15 mg/kg/day of hypoxoside is reportedly therapeutic. Preclinical studies of African Potato have shown immunomodulation, antioxidant, antinociceptive, hypoglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antibacterial, uterolytic, antimotility, spasmolytic and anticholinergic effects. The common side effects of African Potato are nausea and vomiting, which subside over time. In vitro, African Potato demonstrated inhibitory effects on CYP1A2, 2C9, 2D6, 3A4, 3A5, CYP19-metabolism and induction of P-glycoprotein. In vivo, it did not alter the pharmacokinetics of efavirenz or lopinavir/ritonavir.
conclusionAfrican Potato is mainly used as an immunostimulant. The exact mechanisms of action for all the pharmacological actions are unknown. More research is required to substantiate claims regarding beneficial effects. There are many research gaps that require investigation including pharmacokinetic interactions with conventional drugs, especially those used in HIV/AIDS.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.