A new scientific study has confirmed that Cissus quadrangularis, a medicinal plant widely used in Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa, is effective in treating intestinal worm infections and is safe for human use.
The study, published in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research, provides scientific evidence supporting what traditional healers have known for generations. Researchers found that the plant possesses powerful anti-worm (anthelmintic), antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, while showing no signs of toxicity in laboratory tests.
The research was carried out by Joey Chifamba, Sifiso R. Sai, Wadzanai S. Mutambanengwe, and Fortune Chagonda from the University of Zimbabwe, with Chifamba also affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Known locally in Zimbabwe as “muvengahonye,” meaning “worm killer,” Cissus quadrangularis has been used for centuries by traditional healers to treat intestinal worms in both humans and livestock.
The climbing succulent plant, commonly found growing on mopane trees in southern Africa, has also been traditionally used to manage asthma, diabetes, bone fractures, joint pain, and menstrual disorders.
Despite its widespread use, there has been limited scientific evidence to support these traditional claims—until now.
The researchers noted that soil-transmitted worm infections remain one of the world’s most neglected tropical diseases, affecting more than 1.5 billion people, especially in poor communities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Children are among the most affected. Worm infections can lead to malnutrition, poor growth, anaemia, reduced school performance, and weakened immunity.
Although drugs such as albendazole and mebendazole are widely used, scientists say increasing drug…
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