Volume 176, 24 December 2015, Pages 508–514
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Different
communities throughout the world have specialized and profound
knowledge on the use medicinal plants for various diseases. However, the
detailed information on the respective use may extinct in near future
as this knowledge is passed only orally among generations in most of the
communities.
Aim of the study
The
present survey aimed to document the use of medicinal plants by
traditional healers from the Kisii community, Borabu sub-county in
Nyamira county, Kenya, to treat infections of the urinary tract, oral
cavity, gastrointestinal system and the skin and to evaluate the social
context in which the healers work and practice.
Materials and methods
Validated
questionnaires were applied to 50 traditional healers in the study
region, followed by interviews and structured conversations. Information
on the relevant traditionally used medicinal plants and their use were
documented, including sampling and identification of voucher specimens.
Results
The
ethnopharmacological survey revealed 25 medicinal plant species
belonging to 19 families. It got evident that most of these species will
be extinct in the near future unless appropriate measures are taken, as
it turned out difficult to collect some of the wild growing species. Elaeodendron buchananii Loes, Erlangea marginata S. Moore, Acacia gerrardii Benth., Balanites orbicularis Sprague, Solanum renschii Vatke and Orthosiphon hildebrandtii
Vatke have not been described before for its medicinal use. Among the
25 species collected from the various regions of Borabu sub-county Urtica dioica L. was the only medicinal plant that was collected from all regions. In contrast Erythrina abyssinica and Rhus natalensis were found in only two regions of the study area.
Conclusion
The
traditional medicinal use of the reported plants for infections should
be documented and a great need of awareness from scientists and local
government for improved preservation or field cultivation of some
species is obvious.
Graphical abstract
Abbreviations
- GUT, gastrointestinum;
- UTI, urinary tract infection;
- WHO, World Health Organisation
Keywords
- Ethnobotanical survey;
- Infections;
- Kenya;
- Borabu sub-county;
- Medicinal plants
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