Volume 155, Issue 1, 8 August 2014, Pages 580–588
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance
The
aim of the survey was to document medicinal plants used in malaria
treatment by Prometra (Promocion de la medicina tradicional amazonica)
Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs) of Uganda and for search of new
antiplasmodial herbal medicines (HMs) for further phytochemical
analysis.
Materials and methods
In
this study, semi structured guided open and close ended questionnaires
were used. Focus group discussions were conducted and key informants
were chosen within the TMPs who helped in further discussions of how the
herbal remedies where collected, prepared and administered.
Results
A
sample size of 51 respondents was randomly selected among the TMPs with
the help of their leader. 86 species distributed over 81 genera and 39
families were reportedly being used as herbal remedies in malaria
treatment. The TMPs use symptoms like high temperature, shivering, among
others in malaria diagnosis an indication that they understand malaria.
They emphasized the use of leaves and bark in treatment because they
can regenerate and therefore ensure sustainable use of plants rather
than the use of roots which would be destructive. These TMPS treat and
also advise their patients on preventive measures against malaria
attacks like sleeping under mosquito nets, clearing bushes near
homesteads, among others which is an indication that they help in the
prevention and mitigation of malaria incidences and prevalence in the
areas where they live. The Informant Consensus Factor (FIC) value of 0.8
demonstrated that the TMPs of Prometra-Uganda tend to agree with each
other in terms of the plant species they use in malaria treatment an
indication of quality control in as far as administration of the herbal
remedies. Vernonia amygdalina Delile, Bidens pilosa L., Justicia betonica L. were highly cited as being used in malaria treatment with frequencies of mention of 38, 28 and 25, respectively.
Conclusion
TMPs
of Prometra-Uganda understand and treat malaria using the available
plant diversity from their huge forest and the herbal gardens within
Buyija forest. The healers are very keen at plant conservation which is a
good practice. Species like Justica betonica may be investigated further for antiplasmodial assays to justify its efficacy.
Graphical abstract
This study was about documentation of plants used in malaria treatment by Prometra Herbalists in Uganda. Vernonia amygdalina Delile, Bidens pilosa L. and Justicia betonica L. were highly cited as being used in malaria treatment with frequencies of mention of 38, 28 and 25, respectively.
The
healers mentioned the leaves as the most commonly used plant part in
malaria treatment followed by the bark, whole plant, roots, while the
rest were used occasionally.
Keywords
- Malaria;
- Traditional Medical Practioners;
- Herbal Medicines;
- Prometra;
- Uganda
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