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Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2019 | Volume: 19 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 101-121
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Authors

Sebua Silas Semenya

Sebua Silas Semenya

Alfred Maroyi

Keywords

Research Article

Source of Plants Used by Traditional Healers for Respiratory Infections and Related Symptoms in the Limpopo Province

Sebua Silas Semenya Sebua Silas Semenya's LiveDNA and Alfred Maroyi
Background and Objective: Establishment of therapeutic plant specimen supplies used in the traditional healing sector is a crucial step towards conservation of medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. The aim of the study was to evaluate sources of plants used by Bapedi traditional healers (THs) as remedies for respiratory infections (RIs) and related symptoms (RLs) in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Materials and Methods: For data collection, it employed a semi-structured questionnaire, supplemented by field observations with 240 Bapedi THs practicing in the Capricorn, Sekhukhune and Waterberg districts of the Limpopo province, South Africa. Results: A total of 224 species (83%, n = 186 indigenous and 16.9%, n = 38 exotics) belonging to 177 genera and 85 botanical families were documented. This species was obtained by THs from free access communal lands, home gardens and informal herbal medicine shops (muthi shops), for use against RIs and RSs. Amongst these sources, communal lands (68.3%, n=153), particularly bushvelds and grasslands were the major supplies of native plant species (98.6%, n=151). Conclusion: Conservation strategies of the recorded medicinal plants distributed in the communal lands are required.
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