Volume 155, Issue 1, 8 August 2014, Pages 194–202
Ethnobotanical study of indigenous knowledge on medicinal and nutritious plants used to manage opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS in western Uganda
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Traditional
medicine plays an important role in the daily lives of the people of
Uganda to treat a wide range of health problems. Our study presents
results of an ethnobotanical inventory conducted to identify and
document medicinal and nutritional plants used in the management of
opportunistic infections associated with human immunodeficiency virus /
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), the plant parts used,
preparation and administration methods of herbal remedies.
Materials and methods
We
performed semi-structured interviews with 79 respondents (women 78%,
men 22%), who included specialists in medicinal plants (such as
traditional birth attendants and herbalists) and non specialists with
general knowledge of plant use. Respondents answered a semi-structured
questionnaire regarding their knowledge of plants and general treatment
practices including management of HIV/AIDS opportunistic infections. The
reported plants were collected and identified. Data were analyzed using
factor informant consensus and fidelity level to determine homogeneity
of informants׳ knowledge on medicinal and nutritional plants suitable
for different ailment categories and the most preferred plant species
used to treat each ailment category in the study areas.
Results
The
study revealed 148 plant species belonging to 54 families, most of
which were herbs (50.7%). Leaves (61.6%) were the most frequently used
parts in remedy preparations which were mainly administered orally
(72%). The majority of plants (62%) were harvested from wild habitats.
The most important species according to fidelity values are Hibiscus sabdariffa L. for anaemia, Mangifera indica L. for cough, Zehneria scabra (L. F.) Sond. for skin infections, Rhus natalensis Bernh.ex.Krauss for diarrhoea and Tarenna pavettoides
(Harv.) Sim for appetite boosting. The factor informant consensus
highlighted the agreement in the use of plants and showed that the
respiratory infections category had the greatest agreement (0.60).
Family Asteraceae accounted for 15% of the total species recorded. Sixty
plant species (40%) of the plants provide nutritional support.
Conclusion
The
study revealed that folk medicine is still widely practised. Fidelity
level values indicate that these plants are the most preferred species
for particular ailments. The high consensus value (0.6) indicated that
there was high agreement in the use of plants for respiratory ailments
among others. These preferred plant species could be prioritized for
conservation and subjected to chemical screening to ascertain their
pharmacological activities.
Graphical abstract
We
present an inventory of plant species used to treat immunocompromised
people infected with HIV/AIDS. The ailments were classified into
categories and the highest number of plants were used for respiratory
infections. The plants commonly used include Hibiscus sabdariffa L., Albizia coriaria Welw.ex.Oliv, Tarenna pavettoides (Harr.) Sim and Zehneria scabra (L.f) Sond. The commonly used plants need to be evaluated for pharmacological activities.
Keywords
- Ethnobotanical study;
- Nutri-medicinal plants;
- HIV/AIDS;
- Opportunistic infections;
- Uganda
- Corresponding author. Tel.:
+256 776939442.
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