San and Nama indigenous knowledge: The case of |nhora (Pteronia camphorata) and its medicinal use

Abstract

A hitherto unidentified medicinal plant is here identified for the first time as Pteronia camphorata (L.) L., an aromatic shrub of the Asteraceae family endemic to the western and southern coastal region of South Africa. The plant was described in this journal by Laidler1 in 1928 as ‘D/nhora buchu’, and is one of the important types of buchu used by the Nama people. We report the traditional medicinal uses among San and Nama people, based on our interviews with rural participants. These include the treatment of colds, influenza, chest ailments and tuberculosis, as well as convulsions, haemorrhoids and inflammation of the neck. The major and minor chemical compounds of the essential oil that is produced by the plant are identified, together with the site of accumulation of this volatile oil within the leaf. We also investigated the plant’s antimicrobial activity against a selection of a yeast and two Gram-negative and one Gram-positive bacteria, all of which are associated with respiratory infections. P. camphorata is scientifically poorly known but is an important San and Nama traditional remedy. Our study not only prevents the potential loss of historically important indigenous knowledge, but also provides the first scientific evidence to validate the traditional use of ǀnhora against upper and lower respiratory tract infections, including tuberculosis. This detailed study has wider application in demonstrating the fragility of the oral–traditional knowledge of a scientifically neglected indigenous group. It also highlights the scientific and practical importance of preserving traditional plant-use knowledge within a botanically diverse region.

A framework for digital preservation of Indigenous knowledge system (IKS) in repositories in South Africa

“…The high value of IK has made its preservation very important. Studies have emphasized the importance of IKS and why there is a need to ensure that they are preserved (Hulley et al , 2016; van Wyk, 2017). The risks associated with IK such as misappropriation and loss have made it important to take urgent measures to preserve it (Poorna et al , 2014; Plockey, 2014).…”

“…These indigenous groups hold an array of IK in areas like education, craft, medicine, astrology and farming/agriculture. Examples of the IK of these indigenous groups are the Khoisan cultural dance riel (Van Wyk, 2012) and the “Buchu” (boegoe) aromatic plant used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes (Hulley et al , 2016). Although there is more attention on Khoisan indigenous people, the IK of other groups like the neighboring Vendas, Zulus, Sothos and Xhosas are also being studied and captured (Crouch et al , 2020).…”

Medicinal plant diversity used for livelihood of public health in deserts and arid regions of Sindh-Pakistan

“…The preservation of traditional folk knowledge, preference of traditional medicine over others and conservation of biodiversity have gained popularity among various communities, researchers, academicians and policy makers (Heinrich, 2001;Hulley et al, 2016;Khan et al, 2017). Traditional medicinal knowledge (a source of low-cost herbal medicine) requires novel approaches to find hits in successful bioprospecting.…”

Digitization of Indigenous knowledge systems in Africa: the case of South Africa’s National Recorded System (NRS)

“…The Tassa irrigation system in Niger Republic and the Gacaca community-based judicial system in Rwanda (Brehm et al , 2014; Ezeanya-Esiobu, 2017) are good examples of how African indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) have been applied successfully. In South Africa, Buchu aromatic plant (Hulley et al , 2016) and riel (Wyk, 2012) are also examples of available IK. Some benefits of “ D/nhora buchu” (a type of buchu) include the treatment of colds, tuberculosis, influenza, chest ailments, haemorrhoids and convulsions, among other uses (Hulley et al , 2016).…”

“…In South Africa, Buchu aromatic plant (Hulley et al , 2016) and riel (Wyk, 2012) are also examples of available IK. Some benefits of “ D/nhora buchu” (a type of buchu) include the treatment of colds, tuberculosis, influenza, chest ailments, haemorrhoids and convulsions, among other uses (Hulley et al , 2016). The rooibos plant is another example of IK in South Africa (Ajuwon et al , 2018).…”