Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants traditionally used in Gokwe South District, Zimbabwe

Background: People still use plant-based medicine for their basic healthcare requirements despite having easy access to contemporary medications. Individuals are more dependent on natural remedies, especially in rural areas. In Garyaum, North Waziristan, Pakistan, this study intends to investigate the key native plants utilized in medicine and their applications for treating various illnesses.Objectives: The objectives of this study was to: (1) conduct a systematic examination of the wild plants utilized by the inhabitants of the study area; (2) collect indigenous knowledge concerning wild plants; (3) assess species with considerable cultural importance to the Garyaum inhabitants; and (4) document the conservation status of the collected plants in study area.Methods: Ethnobotanical data based on sociodemographic characteristics were collected using the protocol of (Martin 1995). Techniques included direct led field walks, focus groups, and semi-structured interviews. 95 participants including 81 men and 14 women were interviewed. Quantitative approaches, such as relative frequency citation (RFC), use value (UV), and fidelity level (FL) were also conducted.Results: The participants reported a total of 66 plant species, belonging to 49 genera and 28 families. Of the total reported plants, 47 were fodder species, 35 were medicinal species, 14 were timber species, 20 were fuel species, 11 were fruits species, 7 was vegetable species, 2 were condiment species, 9 were thatching species, 3 were ornamental species while 3 were poisonous in nature. The current findings revealed 45 species (68.18 %) as vulnerable, 9 species (13.63 %) as rare, 8 species (12.12 %) as endangered and 4 species (6.06 %) was found infrequent. None of the species was ranked in the dominant category (IUCN 2001) which clearly described the unpleasant situation of the local flora. Conclusion: It is concluded that local people still rely on plant-based medication for their basic medical requirements. The vast majority of the species are utilized as fuel, wood, and fodder. In addition, plant diversity is diminishing as a result of many anthropogenic influences, infrastructural expansion, and climate change as well. Hence, proper identification and cultivation of significant medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as appropriate conservation and management techniques, are urgently needed in the research region. And the value of floral diversity and conservation must be entrenched in local inhabitants' children.

Section: Quantitative Ethnobotany Use Value (Uv)mentioning

confidence: 53%

Indigenous knowledge and conservation status of wild plants collected from Garyaum, North Waziristan, Pakistan

Shah¹,

Buni²,

Badshah³

et al. 2023

“…Roots constituted 26% of the plant parts used in this study. The over-exploitation of medicinal plants valued for their root parts and stem bark raises concerns regarding conservation (Shopo et al 2022). To address this issue, implementing sustainable harvesting practices becomes pivotal in safeguarding these plant parts from overuse and ensuring their longterm availability.…”

Section: Utilization Of Plant Parts and Conservation Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnobotany and quantitative analysis of medicinal plants used by the people of Malava sub-county, Western Kenya

Sikuku,

Njoroge,

Suba

et al. 2023

Background: This research aims to identify and document medicinal plants used by locals in Malava sub-county, Western Kenya, and explore their traditional knowledge and transmission. The ethnomedicinal knowledge in this area is on the brink of extinction due to the increasing prevalence and usage of modern medicine, changing livelihoods, rapid modernization, and urbanization. Methods:The survey was conducted between July and December 2022, using semi-structured open-ended questionnaires and guided field walks. A total of 102 respondents, including Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs), participated. The quantitative analysis involved calculating the use value (UV), frequency of citation (FC), family use value (FUV), and informant agreement ratio (IAR) to assess the significance of each medicinal plant and understand its acceptance. Results:The study documented 62 vascular medicinal plant species from 30 families. The most represented families were Asteraceae and Fabaceae, with seven species each (11.3%). Families with the highest FUV values were Xanthorrhoeaceae (0.235) and Meliaceae (0.612). Leaves were the most commonly used plant part (40%), while trees were the most prevalent plant form (39%). Crushing was the highest recorded mode of preparation (46.2%) with oral administration being common (76.9%). Azadirachta indica A. Juss. was the most utilized plant species medicinally, with the highest use value (UV=0.25). The majority of plant species were used for curing stomachaches (18 species) and malaria (15 species). Conclusions:The findings of this study underscore the urgent need to document traditional knowledge before it becomes lost with the decline of rural practitioners. Therefore, there is a pressing need for ethnobotanical research, policy initiatives, and community programs to protect the biocultural diversity associated with the traditional medical system and ensure the well-being of both the environment and human populations in this region.

“…Indeed, the link between ecosystem services, resource ecology, and people is exploited, which is essential for sustainable resource use (Chen and Sun 2018;Ncube et al 2022). This importance is further justified as recent research has shown that increasing demand for medicinal plants is leading to overexploitation of wild populations for commercial purposes, resulting in habitat degradation and possible extinction of these species (Shopo et al 2022). Third, with the impacts of urbanization, industrialization, migration from rural to urban areas, rapid loss of natural habitats, and lifestyle changes, the wealth of ethnomedicinal plant knowledge in many cultures is gradually decreasing (Pradhan et al 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnobotanical knowledge of Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman (Rosaceae) by people living in community forests in North Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Muhesi,

Betti,

Din

et al. 2023

Background: Prunus africana (Hook. f) Kalkman (Rosaceae) is a multi-purpose species with important utility value for the populations that depend on it. Indeed, local populations living in community forests use P. africana. The objective of this study is to document the different uses of P. africana by local populations in traditional medicine for a better vulgarization for a sustainable management of the resource.Methods: Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in four P. africana distribution areas in North Kivu. Data were collected on the basis of a survey from 221 informants. Statistical analysis and calculation of ethnobotanical indices were performed using R 4.1.2 software.Results: Results of the investigations show that P. africana is by far used in medical practices (96.83%). It is also used as wood energy (60.18 %), charcoal (40.27 %), in handicrafts (7.24 %), construction (6.79 %), food (2.26 %) and traditional rites (0.45 %). In traditional pharmacopoeia, the characterization of the uses allowed us to identify 23 diseases for which P. africana extracts are used to treat them. The bark and leaves are the most used organs in the recipes. The decoction (99.5%), the macerated (10.41%) and the powders (7.69%) are the galenic or pharmaceutical forms in which the local populations prepare the remedies. The potions prepared are mainly administered orally (99.5%). Conclusion:The multiple forms of use of P. africana by the populations of North Kivu, both in medicine and in other categories of use, constitute a threat to its survival. For a sustainable management, the results of this study reveal that it is possible to substitute the species P. africana with other plant species with similar potential in order to limit its overexploitation.