Available online 2 May 2015
Medicinal plants of the Kamiesberg, Namaqualand, south Africa
abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Qualitative
and quantitative data is presented that gives a new perspective on the
traditional medicinal plants of the Khoisan (Khoe-San), one of the most
ancient of human cultures. The data is not only of considerable
historical and cultural value, but allows for fascinating comparative
studies relating to new species records, novel use records and the
spatial distribution of traditional plant use knowledge within the Cape
Floristic Region.
Aim of the study
A
detailed documentation and quantitative analysis of medicinal plants of
the Kamiesberg area (an important Khoisan and Nama cultural centre) and
their traditional uses, which have hitherto remained unrecorded.
Materials and methods
During
four study visits to the Kamiesberg, semi-structured and structured
interviews were conducted with 24 local inhabitants of the Kamiesberg,
mostly of Khoisan decent. In addition to standard methodology, a newly
developed Matrix Method was used to quantity medicinal plant knowledge.
Results
The
Kamiesberg is an important center of extant Nama ethnomedicinal
information but the knowledge is rapidly disappearing. Of a total of 101
medicinal plants and 1375 anecdotes, 21 species were recorded for the
first time as having traditional medicinal uses and at least 284
medicinal use records were new. The relative importance, popularity and
uses of the plants were quantified. The 97 newly documented vernacular
names include 23 Nama (Khoekhoegowab) names and an additional
55 new variations of known names. The calculated Ethnobotanical
Knowledge Index (EKI) and other indices accurately quantified the level
of knowledge and will allow for future local, regional and even global
comparisons.
Conclusion
The
results showed that the Kamiesberg is an important focal point of
Khoisan (Nama) traditional knowledge but that the medicinal plants have
not yet been systematically recorded in the scientific literature. There
are numerous new use records and new species records that are in need
of scientific study. Comparative data is now available for broader
comparisons of the pattern of Khoisan plants use in southern Africa and
the study represents another step towards a complete synthesis of Cape
Herbal Medicine.
Graphical abstract
Abbreviations
- EKI, Ethnobotanical Knowledge Index;
- EKI(m), Ethnobotanical Knowledge Index for medicinal plants only;
- SPI, species popularity index.
Keywords
- Quantitative ethnobotany;
- Khoisan;
- Medicinal plants;
- Nama;
- Namaqualand;
- Traditional knowledge
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Copyright © 2015 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
