Herbal medicines used by Bapedi traditional healers to treat reproductive ailments in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

The current study focussed on documenting the ethnobotanical knowledge of herbal medicines used by the Bapedi traditional healers to treat reproductive ailments in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Fifty one healers from 17 municipalities covering Capricorn, Sekhukhune and Waterberg districts of the Limpopo Province were interviewed between January and July 2011. Semi-structured interviews, observations and guided field surveys with the healers were employed. Thirty-six medicinal plant species belonging to 35 genera and 20 families were documented. The most used species were Zanthoxylum humile (25.5%), Catha edulis (21.6%), Ozoroa sphaerocarpa (15.7%), Hypoxis hemerocallidea (13.7%), Hypoxis obtusa (11.7%), Gomphocarpus fruticosus subsp. fruticosus and Gymnosporia senegalensis (9.8% each). The dominant growth forms among the reported medicinal plants were herbs (39%), followed by shrubs and trees with 33% and 28%, respectively. The preferred plant parts were roots (63.9%), followed by bark (13.9%), whole plant (11.1%), tubers (8.3%), bulbs (5.6%), fruits, leaves, stems and twigs (2.8% each). The majority of the species were used to treat gender specific reproductive ailments; while a minority were used for treating reproductive ailments of both genders. Twenty-two species (61.1%) are supported by reports of similar uses in other countries or have proven biological activity. This study illustrates that Bapedi traditional healers possess remarkable knowledge on medicinal plants used for treating and managing reproductive ailments.

Medicinal Plants Used for Treating Reproductive Health Care Problems in Cameroon, Central Africa1

“…Similar findings were also reported by Kamatenesi-Mugisha and Oryem-Origa ( 2007 ), who noted the extensive use of leaf remedies for inducing labor during childbirth in Western Uganda. The present survey is in conflict with the findings of Semenya et al ( 2013 ), who reported that roots and bark were the most commonly harvested plant parts used to treat reproductive ailments in the Limpopo province of South Africa. It was reported that collection of roots, bark, and whole plants might kill plants in harvest (Chinsembu and Hedimbi 2010 ; Kamatenesi et al 2011 ).…”

Elephantorrhiza elephantina: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of an Important Medicinal Plant Species in Southern Africa

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Review of phytochemistry, biological activities and therapeutic potential of Brachylaena discolor

“…Root decoction taken orally (Gelfand et al, 1985) Female infertility and prevent miscarriage Bark and root decoction taken orally (Semenya et al, 2013); (Mhlongo and Wyk, 2019) Fever…”