Ethnobotanical Review of Medicinal Plants Used by Indigenous Communities in the Okavango Delta, Botswana: Knowledge Documentation, Conservation Challenges, and Bioactive Potential

The Okavango Delta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northwestern Botswana. It covers an area of approximately 15,000 km². It is a biodiverse wetland that supports indigenous communities, including the San, Hambukushu, Bayei, Bugakhwe, and Xanekwe. These groups depend upon medicinal plants for primary healthcare. They are guided by means of Traditional Ecological knowledge (TEK). This review consolidates ethnobotanical statistics, conservation challenges, and bioactive capacity, drawing from Delta-specific and Southern African studies. Dominant plant families, such as Fabaceae and Asteraceae, include species which frequently exceeding 80%. Documentation of this information faces threats from modernization, urbanization, and the decline of oral traditions. Overharvesting, habitat destruction because of agriculture, and climate-related flooding threaten plant populations. Bioactivity studies confirm traditional uses, identifying compounds such as harpagoside, flavonoids, and sesquiterpene lactones with antimicrobial and antimalarial properties. Restricted Delta-unique studies underscore the importance of regional studies. Guidelines include knowledge-led TEK documentation through virtual systems, sustainable conservation through protected areas and ex-situ cultivation, and more advantageous pharmacological studies via local collaborations. This review highlights the importance of preserving the Delta’s biocultural heritage, aligning with international biodiversity goals and promoting sustainable healthcare solutions. Through integrating knowledge with current technology, it aims to protect cultural identity and biodiversity while addressing current health challenges in sub-Saharan Africa.