Meqmeqo (Rumex abyssinicus)
By Fekadu Fullas, PhD
November 22, 2015
| Rumex abyssinicus |
Meqmeqo is a weed plant that grows in cultivated as well as disturbed lands. It grows in tropical Africa, especially in central and Eastern Africa. It is a perennial herb that can grow to a height of 3-4 meters with a fleshy rhizome. In 1984, a group of anthraquinones were isolated by Ethiopian chemists. The plant is also reported to contain oxalic acid, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids and steroids.
The tender and young shoots are edible as a raw or cooked food item. In the 18th century, the Scottish traveler James Bruce noted that the Agews at Gesh used it as a cosmetic plant. Brides used the dye from the tuber to paint their feet, nails and the palms of their hands. This practice appears to be more common in the northern parts of Ethiopia. The dye is also used to color grass used in basketry. Coarse carpets are colored yellow with the plant. It is a common practice to dye the robes of monks yellow by using meqmeqo. The roots are used as a condiment in butter. When processing melted butter, they are added to impart color, flavor and taste.
In Ethiopian traditional medicine, the rhizomes are used for treating malaria, gonorrhea, poisoning, hepatitis, constipation, sciatic neuralgia, hypertension, migraine, rheumatism, breast cancer, stomach distention, earache, liver disease, hemorrhoid, typhus, rabies, scabies and wound. In Ada’a district, bruised eye is treated by drinking a solution prepared by boiling the roots with butter. The leaf is used for gonorrhea and abscesses. In Ethiopian traditional veterinary practice, meqmeqo is also used to treat animals with blackleg and scabies.
Some relevant studies
Several scientific studies have been conducted on the various properties of meqmeqo. The wound healing property was demonstrated in mouse models, in which wound was induced by excision and incision in the respective groups. Thus, topical application of ointment prepared from extracts of the plant showed significant increase in wound contraction and epithelization rate when compared to controls. In the same model, an anti-inflammatory activity was demonstrated by a reduction in swelling that was induced on the paws of mice prior to experiment.
The plant has been shown to have antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pyogens and Staphylococcus aureus and strong antiviral activity against CVB3 and influenza A virus. It has also exhibited anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of the synthesis of inflammatory prostaglandin (PGE2). The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity may explain the use of meqmeqo for the treatment of skin diseases. In another study, extracts of the rhizomes of R. abyssinicus have shown dose-dependent analgesic (pain-relieving) and diuretic (water-pulling out) effect, thus confirming the folkloric use of the plant for pain and hypertension, respectively. The analgesic effect was determined by administering the extract to mice with a previously heat-induced pain. The diuretic effect was comparable to that of furosemide which is often used in modern medicine, while the analgesic effect was comparable to that of morphine and aspirin. In yet another study, an extract of the roots of the plant showed a strong anti-plasmodial activity when tested against both chloroquine-sensitive and resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. However, cytotoxicity was also observed at the dose levels tested. Preliminary studies on meqmeqo have demonstrated anti-cancer activity when tested in various tumor cell lines, inclusive of prostate, brain, breast and leukemia cell cultures.
Conclusion
A cosmetic for women and a plant to dye robes and basketry, meqmeqo (R. abyssinicus) also finds wide application in treatment of various health-related complaints. The use of the plant for constipation may emanate from its anthraquinone constituents which are generally known for their laxative effect. The traditional use of meqmeqo for cancer, hypertension, malaria, pain, wound healing and certain infections also appears to be supported by scientific studies. However, most of the studies were carried out in mice, or cell lines in the case of anti-cancer testing. Extrapolating the results to real-life clinical situations is not warranted, but the few studies reported so far provide a rationale for the use meqmeqo in Ethiopian traditional medicine in certain conditions. Many of the traditional claims for meqmeqo require further elucidation through rigorous scientific studies.
Key References
Eshetu Mulisa, Kaleab Asres, Ephrem Engidawork. BMC Comp Alt Med 2015; 15:341. DOI 10.1186/s12906-015-0878-y.
Flora of Ethiopia & Eritrea. Vol 2, Part 1. Mangnoliaceae to Flucourtiaceae. Edwards, S., Mesfin Tadesse, Sebsebe Demissew, et al (Eds), The National Herbarium, Biology Department (Science Faculty); Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; 2000.
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Muganga, R., Angenot, L, Tits, M. et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2010 ;128: 52-57.
Nestanet Worku, Andualem Mosse, Stich, A et al. ISRN Biochem 2013; Article ID 910308, Volume 10 pageshttp://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/910308
Teshale Mekonnen, Kelbesa Urga, Ephrem Engidawork. J Ethnopharmacol 2010; 127: 433-439.