Traditional South African medicinal plants may improve reproductive performance in goats.

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Frontiers in Medicine Published April 16, 2026 Medically reviewed April 25, 2026 Study authors: Kamogelo Shai, Nthabiseng Amenda Sebola DOI ↗ By Dr. Ji-eun Park, MD · Brain, Mind & Pain

Key Takeaway

Consider traditional South African medicinal plants as an accessible option for goat reproductive health, but note the lack of standardized dosing and safety data.

This narrative review assessed the potential of traditional South African medicinal plants to address reproductive inefficiencies, low libido, poor semen quality, and uterine infections in goats. The specific plants evaluated include Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen., Moringa oleifera Lam., Elephantorrhiza elephantina, Kigelia africana, and Aloe ferox Mill. The review focuses on a population of goats in South Africa, where resource-challenged farmers often resort to these ethnoveterinary options due to their perceived safety and ease of access.

The primary outcome of interest was enhancing reproductive performance. The review indicates that these plants hold a credible value for this purpose, with secondary benefits including fighting infections, controlling parasites, and regulating hormones. However, the main results lack absolute numbers, specific effect sizes, or statistical significance values, as the study is a synthesis of existing literature rather than a primary trial with a defined sample size.

Safety and tolerability data were not reported in the reviewed literature. Key limitations include a lack of standardization regarding safety, dosing, and efficacy. While there is limited but growing evidence from in vitro and in vivo validation, well-designed goat studies with proper dosing and safety testing remain scarce. Consequently, the association between plant use and improved outcomes is not explicitly distinguished from causation.

The practice relevance highlights that these plants offer an accessible option for farmers in resource-challenged settings. Clinicians should interpret these findings with caution, noting that the evidence is observational and incomplete regarding specific dosing protocols and adverse event profiles. Further well-controlled studies are needed to confirm efficacy and establish safe usage guidelines.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedApr 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Goats are an integral part of the livelihoods of South Africans, particularly in the rural communities, yet reproductive inefficiencies (low libido, poor semen quality, uterine infections, postpartum disorders, parasitism, and nutrition gaps) limit their productivity. Most resource challenged farmers resort to the use of ethnoveterinary plants for reproductive health of their goats due to their safety and ease of access; however, there is still a lack of standardization on their safety, dosing and efficacy. This study aimed to review and document the South African traditional medicinal plants used to enhance reproductive performance in goats. The study carried out a narrative review of ethnoveterinary surveys and pharmaco-ethnobotanical literature focused on South Africa, complemented by relevant goat reproduction studies. Our search used various keywords, including “medicinal plants,” “goat breeding,” “ethnoveterinary,” and “medicinal plants” to identify relevant literature in several databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture, and ScienceDirect. Additional searches were conducted using citations found in articles in these databases. The focus was on peer reviewed journals published between the year 2000 and 2025 on South African medicinal plants used to enhance goat reproduction, whether directly or indirectly. During the literature review, it was found that among other plants Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen. (violet tree), Moringa oleifera Lam (moringa), Elephantorrhiza elephantina (Burch.) Skeels (elephant root), Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. (sausage tree), Aloe ferox Mill., were frequently mentioned. Strong evidence was noted from ethnobotanical use to in vitro/in vivo validation, though limited but growing, especially for anthelmintic and antioxidant actions. Based on the literature, it can be concluded that South Africa’s ethnobotanical resources hold credible value for improving goat reproduction by acting as antioxidants, regulating hormones, fighting infections, and controlling parasites that affect body condition. However, well-designed goat studies with proper dosing and safety testing are limited.