Acacia spray dried powder

In Africa, the folkloric practices involving plant-based remedies play a crucial role in livestock farming, often attributed to the limited access to modern veterinary services. The use of Acacia species (including those reclassified as Vachellia species) in ethnoveterinary medicine has garnered increasing interest due to their high protein content and medicinal (including anti-parasitic) properties, offering a sustainable source of fodder particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. However, scientific assessment of their efficacy and safety remains limited. This systematic review examines the ethnoveterinary uses, biological efficacy and safety of Acacia species across Africa. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus, yielding 519 relevant studies published between 2001 and 2024. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 43 eligible studies were analyzed based on their relevance, geographical location and livestock disease applications. Plants of the World online database was used to validate the names of the species and authority. Ethiopia had the highest usage of Acacia species (25%), then Nigeria (20%) followed by both South Africa (15%) and Namibia (15%). Vachellia nilotica (Acacia nilotica) was the most frequently cited species (26.3%), followed by Vachellia karroo (Acacia karroo) (15.8%). Ethnobotanical records indicate that the different Acacia species have been traditionally used to treat conditions such as diarrhea, wound infections and complications such as retained placenta. Pharmacological studies corroborate the therapeutic benefits of Acacia species with evidence of their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anthelmintic effects, though some toxicity concerns exist at high dosages. The systematic review revealed the efficacy and safety (to some extent) of Acacia species in livestock disease management, emphasizing their potential integration into veterinary medicine. However, the dearth of in vivo studies underscores the need for pre-clinical and clinical trials to establish safe and effective dosages for use in livestock.

Abstract licence: CC BY