Ethnopharmacological survey of the Bunda district, Tanzania: Plants used to treat infectious diseases

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 113; no. 3; pp. 457 - 470
• Main Authors: Maregesi, Sheila Mgole, Ngassapa, Olipa David, Pieters, Luc, Vlietinck, Arnold J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 25-09-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: application methods; Biological and medical sciences; Bunda, Tanzania; Communicable Diseases - drug therapy; ethnobotany; Ethnopharmacology; Fabaceae; General pharmacology; human diseases; Humans; indigenous knowledge; Infectious diseases; Interviews as Topic; leaves; Medical sciences; Medicinal plants; Medicine, African Traditional; oral administration; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; phytotoxins; Plants, Medicinal; risk reduction; Tanzania; topical application; toxicity; Traditional medicine; villages; Tanzania; Africa; Medicinal plants; Traditional medicine; Infectious diseases; Bunda, Tanzania; Medicinal plants; Traditional medicine; Infectious diseases; Bunda; Survey; Ethnopharmacology; Folk medicine; Pharmacognosy; Plant origin; Tanzania; Medicinal plant
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.07.006

An ethnobotanical study was carried out in six villages in the Bunda district, Mara Region, Tanzania, where the use of plants still has a special meaning to the society, in the treatment of various diseases. Information was obtained from the traditional healers and other experienced persons, having some knowledge on medicinal plants. Fifty-two plants were reported for use in the treatment of various infectious diseases. These plants belong to 29 families, with Papilionaceae being the most represented. Leaves ranked the highest, especially for use in topical preparations. Oral administration was the most frequently used route of administration. Twenty-one percent of the recorded plants were reported for treating venereal diseases, with syphilis and gonorrhea being the most commonly mentioned. Information providers requested feedback with regard to the plants proven scientifically to be toxic in order to avoid risks while offering their services. From this work it was found out that, people in this area commonly use medicinal plants with trust they have built on the curative outcome witnessed. As the first ethnobotanical study in Bunda district recording 52 plants in a small area covered, publication of this work is expected to open up more studies to record many useful medicinal plants unfolded.