Ethnobotanical Assessment of Herbal Remedies Used for Stomach Disorders, Diarrhoea and Dysentery: A Critical Global Review

Abstract

Gastrointestinal disorders, particularly diarrhoea and dysentery, remain significant contributors to morbidity and mortality worldwide, disproportionately affecting populations in low- and middle-income countries. Across diverse cultural traditions, herbal medicine has long served as the primary or supplementary means of managing these conditions, and a substantial body of ethnobotanical research now documents the plant species employed, the modes of preparation, and the communities that use them. This review critically examines the ethnobotanical evidence base underpinning the use of medicinal plants for stomach disorders, diarrhoea, and dysentery, synthesising findings from studies published between January 2010 and February 2026. The review evaluates the congruence between traditional knowledge and pharmacological validation, considers the methodological quality of ethnobotanical surveys, identifies the most consistently reported plant families and species, and assesses the degree to which bioactive compounds have been characterised and attributed mechanistic activity. Across the literature, families such as Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Euphorbiaceae emerge as predominant sources of antidiarrhoeal and antiulcer remedies, with preparations typically involving aqueous or hydro-alcoholic extracts administered orally. In vitro and In vivo studies corroborate antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and antisecretory mechanisms for many of the reported species, yet critical gaps persist in clinical translation, standardisation, and safety assessment. The review also addresses conservation concerns, intellectual property tensions, and the integration of ethnobotanical knowledge into primary healthcare frameworks. It concludes with a call for methodologically rigorous, interdisciplinary, and community-engaged research to bridge the substantial distance between field documentation and therapeutic application.