**3.1** *Agapanthus-africanus (L.)*

*Agapanthus-africanus* belonging to the family *Agapanthaceae* which is found in the Western cape Province mostly from Cape Peninsula towards Swellendam during the favored by the winter rainfall area [4].

The leaves are suberect, strap shaped with flowers deep blue, thick textured and broadly funnel shape (**Figure 3**) [4]. The plant vernacular names used in in the

*Map of South Africa showing the different 9 provinces-https://za.pinterest.com/pin/314689092704490764/.*

#### **Figure 2.**

*Distribution pattern of south African 11 languages-https://southafrica-info.com/arts-culture/11-languages-southafrica/ (permission granted by Mary Alexander).*

country included Sotho (leta-la-phofu), Zulu (mathunga, icakathi), Xhosa (isilakati), Afrikaans (Haakleli) and English (blue lily). (L.) Hoff manns [4, 5].

Traditionally healers collect and dry the roots of this plant in the sun, once they are dry then that will be followed by extraction method of continuous boiling water until a color change is observed, the aqueous infusion will be orally for the treatment of cancer until the patient is cured [5].

There is no scientific evidence reported on the high toxicity of this plant, the studies have shown low poisonous severity except where other studies have proven parts of the plant like leaves to be poisonous [4, 6].

#### **3.2** *Solanum aculeastrum Dunal*

*S. aculeastrum Dunal* belong to the family *Solanacease*, is a small tree or shrub native to tropical Africa south to South Africa, in a wide range of soil, terrain and climatic conditions [7]. This taxon can be found in the southern African countries of Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga. In addition to

**Figure 3.** Agapanthusafricanus*-http://pza.sanbi.org/agapanthus-africanus.*

disturbed areas, *S. aculeastr*um subsp. aculeastrum grows naturally in grassland, woodland, and forest margin. It is highly branched and reaches 1–5 m high, with numerous sharp hooked brown thorns. The leaves are ovate, up to 15 cm long and 13 cm broad, with lobed margins and a downy underside. Its flowering time is between September to July, peaking from November to March in South Africa climate conditions [7]. This shrub contains small smooth, round berries and fade from green to yellow as they ripen. These berries contain high levels of the poisonous alkaloid solanine [8].

The species name *aculeastrum* refers to the thorns that adorn most parts of the shrub (**Figure 4**) (15). Locally the plant is commonly called Zulu (mtuma), Xhosa (umthuma, itunga), Tswana (thola), Venda (murulwa), English (goat bitter-apple, bitter-apple, goat apple, poison apple) and in Afrikaans (bok-bitterappel, bitterappel, bokappel, gifappel) [7].

The zulu's traditional healers and other ethnic groups practices use the fruit fresh, boiled, or charred to make herbal medicine in treating a variety of diseases such as

**Figure 4***.* Solanum aculeastrum Dunal*-http://pza.sanbi.org/solanum aculeastrum Dunal.*

toothaches, ringworms, and cancer [7, 9, 10]. In the Eastern Cape, The Xhosa's, the berries are boiled until this burst into pieces, decoctions prepared from the fruits are taken orally once a day post filtration until the cancer is cured [5, 11].

Scientifically isolated steroid alkaloids from the *Solanaum acueastrum* have been reported to possess anticancer activity [9, 10]. This exceedingly bitter fruit of *S. aculeastrum* is used medicinally (fresh, cooked, or burnt) in a variety of methods for both people and domestic animals, according to Hutchings et al. [9]. Leaf and fruit aqueous extracts were found to possess low activity against cancer cells [12]. Care should be taken in the use of fresh, dried, and boiled berry extracts and they were found to affect organs function in a study done by Aboyade et al. [13]. The deadly alkaloid solanine is present in both adult and immature fruits. Botanist have warned about poisonous nature of this shrub, according to Acocks (1988), this species is an unwelcome plant whose population should be decreased by effective veld management shrub due to the presence of poisonous alkaloid solanine. It's important for traditional healers to take cognisance of this plant and rather use other herbs available at their disposable [14].

#### **3.3** *Leonotis leonurus (L.) R. Br*

*L. leonurus (L.) R. Br*. belong to the family *Lamiaceae*, the wild dagga with softwoody fast-growing shrub with 1.5 m wide and almost 3 m tall. When *L. leonurus (L.) R. Br.* leaves are crushed, they release a powerful herby aroma. It consists of flowers varying in color from different shades of orange to vivid orange red, the flower heads are in axillary verticils in clusters of 3–11. The herb has stiff hairs that are prickly when touched. Summer is the season for flowering; in some regions, this occurs from November to January, whereas in others, it occurs from mid-autumn to winter (April to June). There are additional known varieties with apricot, yellow, and white flower (**Figure 5**) (15).

In South African ethnic's groups, the shrub is common named, Sotho (lebake, levake); Zulu (umfincafincane, umcwili, imunyane, utshwala-bezinyoni, Xhosa (utywala-bengcungcu, umfincafincane, umunyamunya), Shona (ibetshule-badala, ilihambambeba), English (wild dagga, lion's ear, leonotis) and Afrikaans (wildedagga, duiwelstabak).

The traditional healers prepare at tea from a handful leaves and flowers each morning and night for the treatment of cancer [15]. Another study at the Eastern Cape South African has supported the anticancer activity from the water extract of both the leaf and the flower [16]. The water extract of the leave was scientifically reported to affect the blood system, kidneys and liver function when tested on the rats [17]. The study done by Dlamini in 2005 on toxicity test in the laboratory (in vitro) found the leaf extract to be non-toxic to the human lympocyets [18]. The scientific studies interchangeable show that even though the leaf and flowers possess anticancer activity care should be taken as it can affect the functioning of other organs of the body.

#### **3.4** *Hypoxis argentea* **Harv. Ex baker**

*Hypoxis argentea* Harv. ex Baker belong to the family *Hypoxidaceae*, grows in the Eastern Cape of South Africa on rocky outcrops and grassy areas. It features tiny yellow flowers and slender, ribbed leaves with silky yellowish hairs. A thin, herbaceous perennial plant called Hypoxis argentea can reach heights of 7 to 10 cm and produces a cluster of four to seven grass-like leaves from a tiny, corm-like tuber. The majority

**Figure 5.** Leonotis-leonuru*-http://pza.sanbi.org/leonotis-leonurus.*

#### **Figure 6.**

Hypoxis argentea *Harv. Ex baker - https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/ Hypoxis#&gid=1&pid=9.*

of Hypoxis species are severely harmed or killed by even brief frosts because they are often not extremely cold-tolerant plants. Nearly all the S. African species typically thrive in a Mediterranean environment with little to no frost because they are native to regions with summer rainfall and little to no winter rain (**Figure 6**) [19, 20].

*South African Herbs Used for Cancer Therapy in Rural Areas DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108734*

The frequently used name by the different ethnic groups is South Africa are Sesotho (Leihlo-khomo le leholo, Leihlo-la-kxomo-le-leholo, letsikitlane), Xhosa(ixalanxa), Zulu (inongwe), English (small silver starflower). Other subspecies of Hypoxidaceae family usend mostly across the country in rural areas included the following hypoxis colchicifolia Bakr (Zulu-iLabatheka; English-broad-leaves hypoxi), hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch., C.A. Mey. & Ave-Lall (Sesotho-moli kharatsa, lotsane; Tswana-tshuka; Xhosa-inongwe, ilabatheka, ixhalanxa, ikubalo lezithunzela; Zuluinkomfe, ilabatheka, inkomfe enkulu; English-star flower, yellow star; and Afrikaanssterblom, geelsterretjie, gifblom) [5].

The plant is harvested from the wild by traditional healers and ordinary people for medicinal use [21]. An aquest decoctions made from crushed buldis orally taken for the treatment of cancer until the patient is cured [5, 22, 23]. No Scientific report on the toxicity of this plants have been documented.

#### **3.5** *Euphorbia ingens* **E. Mey. Ex Boiss**

*E. ingens E. Mey. ex Boiss*, a member of the *Euphorbiaceae* family, is a spiny, evergreen, succulent tree with a short trunk [24]. It has a thick bole, gray and coarsely fissured bark, abundant latex, persistent branches from about three meters up, virtually upright, rebranching, and forming a huge, broadly rounded crown [24]. Simple and transitory, the stems' nearly spine-free, green, cactus-like leaves do most of the photosynthesis instead of the leaves themselves. The plant is distributed across the following provinces of South Africa Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North-West [20]. This tree prefers warm areas and can survive in areas that go through long periods of drought or are generally very dry (**Figure 7**) [24].

The vernacular names of the common tree E. ingens E. Mey. ex Boiss are; Sepedi (Mohlohlo-kgomo, Abaphaphi, Mokgoto, Mokgwakgwatha); Tswana (Monkgôpô, Ngôgô, Nkonde, Nkondze.); Zulu (Abaphaphi, Umahetheni, Umhlondlo, Umhlonhlo, Umphapha Umhlondlo, Umpapa, nkondze); Shona (inkonze, mkonde, mukondwe, mukonde); IsiNdebele (Inkonze); English (Cactus Euphorbia, Candelabra Euphorbia, Candelabra Tree, Common Tree Euphorbia, Tree Euphorbia, Giant Euphorbia, Naboom); Afrikaans (Gewone Melkboom, Gewone Naboom, Gewone Melkboom, Gewone Naboom, Kankerbos, Naboom, Noorsboom, Noorsdoring, Noorsdoringboom, Noorsheuning); **Tshivenda (**Mukonde**)**. The vilage **Naboom**spruit (− now Mookgopong), North of Pretoria, took its name from this tree [25].

**Figure 7.** Euphorbia ingens E. Mey. Ex Boiss*-http://pza.sanbi.org/euphorbia-ingens.*

The plant is harvested by the Bapedi people who use the freshly squeezed juice from the stem and apply it after bathing on the skin topically for the treatment of breast cancer [26]. The Sotho speaking people apply its latex topically for the external cancer on the skin until cancer is cured [5]. The studies shows that other ethnic groups use it for the treatment of cancer [21]. Traditional healers and traditional medicine practicing people at the rural area should be careful when handling this plant, due to the deadly milky sap or latex [25]. It is exceedingly dangerous to use latex because it can cause allergic reactions, blisters, and even blindness [25]. It is advisable burn this tree first to reduce the impact of the toxic fluid before used as a tradition medicine [24, 25].

#### **3.6** *Raphionacme hirsuta* **(E. Mey.) R.a. dyer**

*Raphionacme hiesuta (E. Mey.) R.A. Dyer* is a member of the *Apocynaceae* family, a perennial plant that grows to around 200 mm tall, profoundly branched, and has a huge, tuberous rootstock. Its herbaceous, finely hairy stems exude a milky sap. This plant often hibernates during winter and sprouts new growth in the spring. *In a grassland, its blue blossoms are frequently missed because they appear at ground level before the leaves emerge. Once observed, something will always be remembered.* The leaves are 12–50 6–25 mm, hairy or hairless, and have parallel secondary veins and a conspicuous midvein [27]. It forms a very big underground tuber that has many cultural and medicinal attributes. *In savanna and open grassland provinces like Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern and Northern Cape, North-West, and Limpopo, Raphionacme hirsuta is frequently found on rocky and mountainous terrain* (**Figure 8**) [28].

The vernacular names of the common plant *Raphionacme hirsuta* (E. Mey.) R.A. Dyer are Southern Sotho (Kerentshane), Xhoza (intsema), Zulu (umathanjane, Umathangane), English (false gentian, khadi root), and Afrikaans (Khadiwortel, khadi) [29, 30].

*R. hirsuta* tubers or roots are traditionally used as a source of yeast to produce beer and as a traditional therapy for maladies and diseases like cancer and chronic ulcers despite being rumored to be poisonous [31, 32]. As early as in the 1960's the Southern Sotho speaking people were using this plant for the treatment of internal tumors [33].

**Figure 8.** Raphionacme hirsuta *(E.Mey.) R.a. dyer- http://pza.sanbi.org/raphionacme-hirsuta.*

Scientific study reported that a 50% aqueous methanol was effective to inhibit almost 90% a rodent leukemia (P-388) cancer model [34]. A great caution should be exercised as the roots of this plants are believed to be poisonous [35].

#### **3.7** *Lassertia frutescense (L.)*

*Lassertia frutescense* is a fast-growing, hardy shrublet in the *fabrica* (*Fabaceae*) family that has been cultivated in gardens for many years. Lessertia frutescens is found in the dry parts of southern Africa. It is found in the Western Cape and up the west coast as far north as Namibia and into Botswana, as well as in the western Karoo and the Eastern Cape including the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provices [36]. It is distinguished by its silvery-gray leaves and loose clusters of luminous coral-red pea-shaped flowers that bloom from spring to mid-summer (**Figure 9**) [37]. It is drought-tolerant and prefers well-drained soil. The shrub is native to South Africa and is used to treat illnesses such as cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes, and associated symptoms of HIV/AIDS [38].

The shrub is commonly called Xhoza (Umnwele), English (cancer bush), and Afrokaans (kanerbossie, eendjies, ganbossie) [5]. *Lessertia frutescens* (previously *Sutherlandia frutescens*) is well-known for its medicinal properties, interesting balloon-like fruit capsules and incredibly bitter taste. The shrub became famously known as the 'cancer bush' alludes to its reputation as a potential cure for cancer in South Africa. Although there was no scientific report to support for Lessertia as a cure for cancer as alluded by traditional healers, later there was a proven to boost the immune system and activate the body's resources to combat disease and mental and physical stress of daily life [37].

Traditional healers collect stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds which are then dried, then decoctions from each is administered orally to treat internal cancers. In the case of external cancers decoctions prepared from this shrub are applied topically until the patient is cured [5]. Other traditional healers collect fresh plant materials, dry them, and then stamp or mash them into powder between two stones, as this tradition is practiced by various ethnic groups. The preparation is then typically infused in hot or boiling water, allowed to cool before being administered to the sick person [15, 39, 40].

There is scientific evidence that the phenolic, flavonoid, alkaloid, and saponin contents of extracts of in vitro leaves, field leaves, and seeds of the leguminous plant *L. frutescens* were quantified using spectrophotometric and gravimetric methods. Saponins were found to be more abundant in in vitro leaves than in field leaves and seeds, followed by phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The extracts were also qualitatively examined to determine the presence of additional phytochemicals of medicinal interest. Tannins, phlobatannins, and cardiac glycosides were found in this qualitative analysis [39]. This study clarified and added to the body of knowledge because it is critical for our traditional healers to understand which parts of the shrub contain a variety of ingredients. Another scientific study discovered that our forefathers could even distinguish which decoctions to prepare based on the type of disease indicated by the patient [15]. Other studies reported that the traditional healers prepare this shrub by using its leaves, flowers, stems, and roots to treat various ailments [40]. Furthermore, more studies done globally supported the benefit of this plant in the treatment of cancer and most importantly it was found to induce cell death (apoptosis) and was also reported nontoxic by the different scientific [41–50]. Both the sciences and indigenous knowledge contributed to the identification an honored this plant by calling it cancer bush.
