Medicinal plants used in managing diseases of the respiratory system among the Luo community: an appraisal of Kisumu East Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Poor access to healthcare in rural communities causes many people to seek herbalists who use medicinal plants for the treatment of various disease conditions. Most knowledge of traditional herbal medicine makes use of indigenous remedies which are often undocumented and are at risk of being lost. The preservation of this knowledge may facilitate scientific inquiry into promising new therapeutic molecules. Methods: Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect the sociodemographic information of 30 herbalists in Kisumu East Sub County. The local names of medicinal plants used in managing illnesses of the respiratory system, their habit, active parts, indications, methods of preparation, routes of administration, scientific identity, and conservation status were also recorded. Other reported traditional uses, pharmacological activities, and toxicological data were identified via a literature search. Results: Most herbalists were female (86.7%), aged between 61 and 70 years (43.3%) with no formal education (56.7%), and had 21-30 years of practice (30%). 44 plant species, belonging to 43 genera and 28 families were identified. Leguminosae and Rutaceae plant families were predominant, leaves were frequently used (33%), and trees were the most common habit (44.4%). Most plants were collected in the wild (79.2%), preparation was mainly by decoction (68.8%), and the administration was mainly orally. The main indication was cough and 79.5% of all documented plant species had previously been reported to have a pharmacological activity relevant to the mitigation of respiratory illnesses. Toxicological data was available for 84.1% of the plant species identified. Conclusions: The predominant use of roots, root barks, and root tubers by herbalists in Kisumu East Sub County threatens to negatively impact the ecological survival of some plant species. The preservation of herbalists' knowledge of medicinal plants in the study area is a pressing concern considering their advanced age and little formal education. There is a need to conserve some of the medicinal plants documented in this study. The medicinal claims made by herbalists also warrant scientific scrutiny.

An Annotated Inventory of Tanzanian Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used for the Treatment of Respiratory Bacterial Infections

“…Others were Malvaceae (10; 5.9%), Bignoniaceae (8; 4.7%), Rutaceae (8; 4.7%), Rubiaceae (8; 4.7%), Phyllanthaceae (7; 4.15%), Anacardiaceae (7; 4.1%), and Lamiaceae (5; 3.0%). A similar trend of plant families has been reported [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. The most cited plant in our review was Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl.…”

Phytochemical Analysis and Investigation of the Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of Croton dichogamus Pax Crude Root Extracts

“…On the other hand, there was a significant difference ( p < 0.05) between the mean zones of inhibition recorded for the three extracts and the positive controls (cephalexin and fluconazole) under various concentrations. The antimicrobial results of this study substantiate the traditional claim of the plant to treat ailments that are of bacterial origin like tuberculosis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections [ 5 , 30 ].…”

Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical composition, antimicrobial activity, and brine shrimp cytotoxicity of different solvent extracts of Acanthus polystachyus, Keetia gueinzii, and Rhynchosia elegans

“…However, scientific data to support the claims emanating from the practice of traditional herbal medicine in the country is scanty. Acanthus polystachyus, Keetia gueinzii, and Rhynchosia elegans are routinely used in Kisumu County to manage a host of diseases including microbial infections [11]. There is a paucity of information on the phytochemical composition, antimicrobial properties, and safety of these plants.…”

“…Their diverse pharmacological activities may be exploited for the management of various disease conditions including combating pathogens [10]. Among these plants, Acanthus polystachyus, Keetia gueinzii, and Rhynchosia elegans may hold some promise [11].…”

“…It is traditionally indicated for malaria [18]. Acanthus polystachyus (roots), Keetia gueinzii (root barks), and Rhynchosia elegans (root tubers) are used for managing microbial infections in Kenya [11]. There are no pharmacological reports on Rhynchosia elegans and Keetia gueinzii.…”