Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Jan 13:12:5.
doi: 10.1186/s13002-015-0077-4.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plant species used by communities around Mabira Central Forest Reserve, Uganda

Patience Tugume  1 , Esezah K Kakudidi  2 , Mukadasi Buyinza  3 , Justine Namaalwa  4 , Maud Kamatenesi  5 , Patrick Mucunguzi  6 , James Kalema  7
Affiliations

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plant species used by communities around Mabira Central Forest Reserve, Uganda

Patience Tugume et al. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. .

Abstract

Background: An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants was carried out in 14 villages adjacent to Mabira Central Forest Reserve (CFR) in Central Uganda between August 2013 and March 2014.

Methods: Information was obtained through interviews using semi- structured questionnaires. Field excursions with traditional healers and herbal medicine collectors were carried out. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. Fidelity ratios and Informant consensus agreements were calculated.

Results: A total of 190 plant species in 61 families and 152 genera were reported in the treatment of various health conditions. Family Fabaceae was dominant representing 14 % of the plant species documented. Vernonia amygdalina was the preferred species for treating malaria. Leaves (68 %) were the most frequently used parts in preparing herbal remedies. Decoctions (29 %) and oral route (53 %) of administration were commonly used method of herbal medicine preparation and administration respectively. Fifty-eight health conditions grouped in 25 categories were treated using medicinal plants. Informant consensus agreement was highest for blood system disorders (0.9) that included anaemia, hypertension and blood cleansing indicating homogeneity of informant's knowledge about remedies used. Vernonia amygdalina and Erythrina abyssinica had 100 % fidelity level for treatment of malaria and vomiting respectively.

Conclusion: The diversity of medicinal plant species used and the associated indigenous knowledge are of great value to the local community and their conservation and preservation is paramount. The therapeutic uses of the documented plants provides basic data for further research focused on pharmacological studies and conservation of the most important species.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of Mabira CFR showing the study villages. The figure shows location of Mabira CFR in Uganda and specifically highlights the sites of villages where ethnobotanical surveys of medicinal plants were carried out. The map displays demarcations of the administrative boundaries showing the major road network and the main physical features in the study area
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Percentage of species prepared using different methods. The figure depicts the percentage of medicinal plant species used for making herbal remedies using different methods according to information obtained from key informant interviews. The total number of species for calculation of percentages was 190. In some cases herbal remedies from the same medicinal plant species could be prepared using more than one method. The main ingredient used in preparation of herbal remedies was water in the case of decoctions and cold infusions. Method of preparation varied according to the plant species, plant part used and sometimes the condition being treated
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Asiimwe S, Namutebi A, Borg-Karlsson A, Kamatenesi-Mugisha M, Oryem-Origa H. Documentation and Consensus of Indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants used by the local communities in Western Uganda. J Nat Prod Pl Res. 2014;4(1):34–42.
    1. Joshi AR, Joshi K. Indigenous knowledge and uses of medicinal plants by local communities of the Kali Gandaki Watershed Area, Nepal. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000;73:119–29. doi: 10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00301-9. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kamatenesi-Mugisha M, Oryem-Origa H. Traditional herbal remedies used in the management of sexual impotence and erectile dysfunction in Western Uganda. Afr Health Sci. 2005;5(1):40–9. - PMC - PubMed
    1. WHO . Mental Health Global Action program (mHLGAP) Geneva, Switzeland: World Health Organisation; 2002.
    1. Senthilkumar K, Aravindhan V, Rajendran A. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by Malayan Tribes in Yercaud Hills of Eastern India. J Nat Remedies. 2013;13:119–32.

Publication types

Substances