Abstract

Background: Rwanda harbours exceptional botanical diversity within the Albertine Rift, and its population has relied on plant-based therapeutics for centuries. Despite this heritage, a comprehensive synthesis linking Rwandan ethnobotanical knowledge to modern pharmacy practice is lacking. Objectives: This review critically synthesizes published ethnobotanical literature on Rwandan medicinal plants (1987–2025), with particular emphasis on phytochemical characterization, pharmacological validation, pharmaceutical formulation potential, regulatory developments, and research gaps relevant to clinical pharmacy and drug discovery. Methods: A structured narrative review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, World Health Organization (WHO) databases, and Rwandan governmental and institutional reports. Search terms included combinations of Rwanda, ethnobotany, medicinal plants, traditional medicine, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and specific disease terms. The literature selection process was systematized and mapped using a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow framework to detail study inclusion, exclusion, and information synthesis. Results: Over 700 medicinal plant species have been documented in Rwanda, across therapeutic domains including gastrointestinal disorders, liver disease, malaria, cancer, skin conditions, and respiratory infections. Key species including Vernonia amygdalina, Erythrina abyssinica, Tetradenia riparia, and Clerodendrum myricoides demonstrate scientifically validated phytochemical profiles including flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, sesquiterpene lactones, and terpenoids consistent with their traditional applications. Rwanda’s pharmaceutical landscape is undergoing transformation through the National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA) Phyto Social Enterprise (POSE) project, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility upgrades, and the imminent launch of the country’s first certified phytomedicines. Conclusions: Rwanda’s ethnobotanical heritage represents a significant pharmaceutical resource that remains insufficiently valorized. Bridging traditional knowledge with GMP- compliant formulation, pharmacovigilance, and clinical evidence generation is essential to reduce the country’s 98% pharmaceutical import dependence and advance patient care.

Keywords

ethnobotany, Rwanda, medicinal plants, phytochemistry, pharmacy, traditional medicine, pharmacognosy, drug discovery, phytomedicine