Review of phytochemical and antioxidant properties of Ethiopian medicinal plants

Abstract Ethiopia possesses a rich ethnobotanical heritage and diverse medicinal flora that play an important role in traditional healthcare. Many Ethiopian medicinal plants contain bioactive phytochemicals with potential antioxidant properties. This capital of indigenous knowledge has contributed to the documentation of different medicinal plants that are used to treat a variety of ailments. This review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Relevant studies published between 2000 and 2025 were searched from databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using keywords related to Ethiopian medicinal plants, phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity, and ethnopharmacology. Peer‐reviewed studies reporting qualitative, quantitative phytochemical analyses and antioxidant activities were included. The data was extracted between November and January 2025. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant studies were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using keywords related to Ethiopian medicinal plants, phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity, and ethnopharmacology. Peer‐reviewed studies reporting qualitative, quantitative phytochemical analyses and antioxidant activities were included. The data was extracted between November and January 2025. A total of 73 Ethiopian medicinal plant species were identified, including 53 species with quantitative phytochemical analyses and 20 with qualitative analyses. Twenty‐three species were reported as edible. The most frequently detected phytochemical groups were alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, saponins, and tannins. Antioxidant activity was documented for 53 species, with Echinops kebericho , Moringa oleifera , Rhamnus prinoides , Hagenia abyssinica , Coffea arabica , Nigella sativa , Vernonia amygdalina , and Acacia abyssinica among the most extensively studied. The identified phytochemicals were associated with antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Ethiopian medicinal plants exhibit substantial phytochemical diversity and significant antioxidant potential, highlighting their value for drug discovery, nutritional applications, and public health. The findings also support the scientific relevance of traditional medicinal knowledge. Future research should focus on the isolation and characterization of active compounds, validation of biological activities, and conservation of indigenous knowledge systems.