Unfolding Stories of Harpagophytum (Devil’s Claw) or Sengaparile in Botswana: Reviews and Usefulness of the Plant

This study reassessed the medicinal potential of Harpagophytum procumbens and related taxa in Botswana using ethnobotanical, phytochemical, microbiological, and AI-assisted approaches. Field surveys revealed a broader than expected distribution of Harpagophytum across Botswana, and evidence of hybridisation between H. procumbens and H. zeyheri that contributes to chemotypic variability. In selected accessions, Microbiological assays demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity, particularly against resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, while additional activity was observed against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, limited efficacy was recorded against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Phytochemical integration indicated pathway-dependent medicinal functions, with phenylethanoid glycosides associated with antioxidant activity and iridoid and terpenoid metabolites linked to anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Artificial intelligence-assisted synthesis established chemogeographic stratification across Botswana, and identified ecological zones with taxa that have distinct therapeutic potential. The findings highlighted Harpagophytum as a chemically heterogeneous but commercially valuable medicinal resource with potential applications in precision phytomedicine and targeted bioprospecting.