The use of some Indigenous Plants for Medicinal and other Purposes by Local Communities in Namibia with Emphasis on Oshikoto Region: A Review

INTRODUCTION

Many attempts have been made to define Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). Until now, there is no universal accepted meaning of what indigenous knowledge really is and whether it differs from traditional knowledge. IKS is defined as local knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society. It is the knowledge by which food security, animal and human health and sustainability is achieved. In this sense, this knowledge is the local people’s capital (UNESCO, 1999; Mapaure and Hatuikulipi, 2007; Dan et al., 2010).

Traditional medicinal practices are an important part of the primary health care delivery system in most of the developing world (Sheldon et al., 1997). The use of traditional medicine and medicinal plants in most developing countries, as a normative basis for the maintenance of good health, has been widely observed (UNESCO, 1996). Furthermore, an increasing reliance on the use of medicinal plants in the industrialized societies has been traced to the extraction and development of several drugs and chemotherapeutics from these plants as well as from traditionally used rural herbal remedies (UNESCO, 1998). Traditional African medicine is 'the sum total of practices, measures, ingredients and procedures of all kinds whether material or not, which from time immemorial has enabled the African to guard against diseases, to alleviate his/her suffering and to cure him/herself' (Busia, 2005). The traditional medical systems are generally based on the uses of natural and local products which are commonly related to the people’s perspective on the world and life (Toledo et al., 2009).

Plants have been used in traditional medicine for several thousand years (Abu-Rabia, 2005). Medicinal plants are used to treat the spiritual origins of disease as well as the physical symptoms. The vast knowledge of such plants is now beginning to be acknowledged by the rest of the world; so is the role played by indigenous people as custodians of the world’s genetic heritage (Idu and Onyibe, 2007). It is also provides leads towards therapeutic concept thereby accelerating drug discovery; this is now being called reverse pharmacology (Chinsembu, 2009; Kaya, 2009).

The striking coincidence between indigenous medicinal plant uses and scientifically-proved phytochemical and pharmacological properties shows that the traditional remedies are an important and effective part of indigenous healthcare systems which is totally dependent on traditional healers. More detailed phytochemical and pharmacological studies of traditionally-used medicinal plants are thus an important line of research to be pursued. Medicinal plants provide huge opportunities for local communities’ development and livelihood improvement. However, indigenous people are often deprived of the benefits from these resources whenever they are commercialised. Proper management of high-value and high-priority medicinal plants could serve as a sustainable income source for the communities. This would in turn help generate incentives for biodiversity conservation, thus ensuring the long-term availability of medicinal plants for indigenous and commercial uses.

IKS AND THE MEDICINAL PLANTS IN NAMIBIA

Overview: Namibian vegetation as described by White (1983) falls mainly within three phytochoria namely the Zambezian, Kalahari Highveld and Karoo-Namib centers of endemism. Namibia's vegetation categories have been proposed by Giess (1971); the main vegetation types are: desert, savanna and woodland, which were subdivided in 14 smaller vegetation units. There is a decreasing species diversity with decreasing rainfall but endemism shows the opposite trend. This has a bearing on the availability and range of plants for use by local communities (Mapaure and Hatuikulipi, 2007). A total of 3159 plant species have been reported to occur in Namibia (Cunningham, 1992; Marshall, 1998; Craven et al., 1997). A wide variety of these plant species is used by local communities for medicinal and other purposes. The Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database (www.kew.org/sepasalweb/sepaweb) lists 615 plant species (19.5%) as being used for medicinal purposes in Namibia.

The traditional healing practices in Namibia have been studied by a number of researchers (Lumpkin, 1994; Lebeau, 1998, 2003; Marshall, 1998; Shapi et al., 2009; Chinsembu and Hedimbi, 2010; Dan et al., 2010).

Lumpkin (1994) surveyed traditional medical practitioners in Kavango, Caprivi, Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto Regions and Katutura in Windhoek. The survey was over 6 weeks through interviews of groups and individual traditional healers in these places. Few diseases and their treatment using plants are given but plant names are listed only in vernacular languages.

Marshall (1998) interviewed many traditional healers in Windhoek. He notes that reliance on traditional medicine is high; in both rural and urban areas emphasizing that people are more knowledgeable about identities and applications of medicinal plants in rural areas. There are about 2400 traditional medical practitioners in Namibia who are registered with the National Eagle Traditional Healers Association (NETHA) but the actual number practicing could be higher (Marshall, 1998). However, the number of local plants used was found to be high, primarily originating from Kavango, Caprivi and northern Namibia. The traditional medical practitioners reported that 53 plant species were in demand for medicinal trade in Windhoek (Marshall, 1998).

Lebeau (2003) dealt with traditional healing in Katutura, Windhoek. She emphasized the practices, beliefs, witchcraft, etc. and human behavior regarding traditional healing.

The ethnobotany and indigenous knowledge of Namibian traditional healers play an important role in directing plant genetic resources conservation efforts (Cunningham, 1992) and the variety of life styles and land-use practices in Namibia, from San hunter-gatherers, pastoralists to subsistence and commercial farmers have important roles on the medicinal plant use in Namibia. The unfortunate situation is that the diversity of indigenous knowledge is rapidly being lost as life styles of people change and many plant species are becoming more difficult to obtain; such as Albizia brevifolia, Commiphora mollis, Commiphora glaucescens, Commiphora pyracanthoides, Elephantorhiza elephantina, Fockea angustifolia, Gardenia spatulifolia, Momordica balsamina and Protea gaguedi. In some cases, local extinction of species has been reported. A case in point is the local extermination of Protea gaguedi populations in North-East of Namibia which occurred naturally along the Okavango River in Namibia is practically extinct due to local trade in its roots for traditional medicine as an aphrodisiac (Cunningham, 1992) and due to frequent field fires (Kolberg, 1995). This species is, however, still available in neighboring countries. It is noted that more detailed knowledge is held by local specialists such as traditional healers and can be a useful guide not only to medicinal plants but also to over-exploited species (Marshall, 1998).

The anthroposophical medicine, homeopathy and phytotherapy are being recognized by the public health services in Namibia, hence research into and use of the natural vegetation is justified and the valuable knowledge is enshrined in herbalists and the danger is that it may soon be irretrievably lost with the passing away of the herbalists (Von Koenen, 2001). A list of 598 plant species and 2 fungi species were used as food and medicine and plants poisonous to humans and livestock. There is a vast field of applications for the medicinal plants and many pharmacies which used to stock only pharmaceutical medicines now maintain large stocks of anthroposophical, homeopathic and phytotherapeutic remedies (Von Koenen, 2001).

Topnaar communities: Topnaar communities live in the Kuiseb valley and Sesfontein situated in the south west of Namibia. A detailed ethnobotanical study was carried out by Eynden et al. (1992) who described 42 plant species found in Kuiseb valley and 53 plant species in Sesfontein. Some of the plant species are used for medicinal purposes while others are consumed as food, food preservation, cosmetics and fodder. Another ethnobotanical survey by Eynden and van Damme (1993) also reported on the use of medicinal and aromatic plants. A list of plant species was compiled including plant names, systematic classification and ethnobotanical properties. Many plants were analyzed for active substances. The Topnaar communities make their own traditional medicine by using mixtures of animal and plant products but no specification on medicinal plant uses are given. The most popular plant of food use is the !Nara (Acanthosycios horridus) (Botelle and Kowalski, 1999).

San communities: The term San or Bushman is considered the most neutral by anthropologists; they are the indigenous people of the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. The San were and are largely still are perceived by their various neighbors to be different from all other people and are sometimes perceived negatively as constituting an inferior or more primitive ethnic community. There are just over 30,000 San living in Namibia, making up less than 2 percent of the national population (Berger and Mazive, 2002; Dan et al., 2010).

Medical plant uses by communities of San people in the north-eastern part of the Otjozondjupa Region has been reported by Leger (1997) who compiled a list of 110 plant species used by the !Kung for various purposes, 47 have been specifically used for medicinal purposes. The main community of the San is the !Kung, who belong to three different tribes, the Ju\’hoansi, Punguvlei and Vasekele. The !Kung hunter-gatherers have a particularly rich knowledge of tubers and roots with edible or medicinal value. The genera Boophane, Urginea, Ornithogalum and Asclepidaceae may contain certain glycosides or alkaloids, are highly toxic but are sometimes selected for medicinal purposes (Cunningham, 1992).

Another field study was carried out by Leffers (2003) between 1999 and 2002 in Nyae Nyae Conservancy in the eastern Tsumkwe Constituency, which is the home to one of the oldest and most fascinating cultures on the African continent, the Ju\’hoansi. The following communities Makuri, Xamsa, N≠anemh,!Aotta, N!on!xom, Denlui, !Aotcha, Djxohoe and Baraka were studied using participatory approaches involving semi-structured interviews. The goal of this study was to document the wisdom and experience of indigenous people in order to contribute to preserving this part of the San people’s heritage for future generations. Leffers (2003) described 238 plant species occurring in the area and highlights their traditional uses. A wide range of different plants and plant parts are used but plant roots play a significantly important role. The study also noted that in some cases, potentially toxic plants are used as medicines, hence dosage is very important. Some applications noted in the area were not compatible with western medical tradition, as locals have a different understanding of how certain diseases are caused. This is largely because traditional healing is a very complex issue involving rituals and spiritual aspects, far more than simply the use of plants (Leffers, 2003; Lebeau, 2003). Several plant species are used as insect repellents while others are worn as belts, pendants, or as protective charms against diseases. Inhalation of smoke or vapour from a wide range of plant species is also practiced. It is worthwhile to note that some species used by the Ju\'hoansi are protected by law in Namibia while some are on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendices, e.g., Ceropegia genus, Brachystelma gymnopodum and some members of the genera Harpagophytum, Euphorbia, Eulophia and Aloe (Leffers, 2003). Dan et al. (2010) reported the uses of 17 medicinal plants by the San community living on Farm Six, located in the Mangetti west area north of Tsumeb. These medicinal plants are used as the sources of traditional medicine at Farm Six are either collected from the surrounding area or foraged from deeper in the bush. These remedies are easier to obtain during the rainy season, when leaves and roots are easily available. The aliments or diseases treated by these plants are tuberculosis (TB), stomach ache, malaria, coughs, colds and flu, legs pain, runny nose, back pain, chest pain and high blood pressure (Dan et al., 2010). One example of these medicinal plants is Ximenia; which the seed kernels of Ximenia americana are roasted and used as a remedy for flu in children and wounds healing. The roasted seeds are crushed and applied directly to the wound. In the same manner; the kernels of Ximenia caffra are used for preparing a valued ointment for healing wounds (Dan et al., 2010).

Owambo communities: A detailed study on the medical culture of the Owambo people of southern Angola and northern Namibia was reported by Davies (1994). All aspects of the medical culture were considered on Owambo beliefs and practices relating to health and health maintenance. The research work pays particular attention to use of plants as medicines by the Owambo communities as well as to their prophylactic and propitiatory measures. The study gives details of the plants used-species, parts used, preparation of drugs and ailments treated. The number of plants listed is slightly more than the 103 in the Powell-Cotton Museum collection in Kent, United Kingdom (collected from the region) for medicinal plants.

Lozi people (Caprivians): The Lozi people of Caprivi region especially in the capital city of this region; Katima Mulilo have very strong beliefs in the use and efficacy of ethnomedicines (Chinsembu and Hedimbi, 2010). An ethnobotanical survey in Caprivi region on the uses of indigenous plants to manage HIV/AIDS opportunistic infections in Katima Mulilo was carried out by Chinsembu and Hedimbi (2010). They interviewed 14 traditional healers (73% male, 27% female) in June and November 2009 and April 2010. A total of 71 plants belong to 28 families were identified. The most used families were Combretaceae (14%), Anacardiaceae (8%), Mimosaceae (8%) and Ebanaceae (7%). The most plant parts used were leaves (33%), bark (32%) and roots (28%). The traditional healers used these plants to treat various conditions were: diarrhoea (29%), malaria (24%), herpes simplex 15%, tuberculosis (14%), meningitis (11%), skin infections (11%), herpes zoster 10%, candidiasis (7%) and others ailments (29%). For example, Aloe zebrina leaves were used to treat herpes zoster which can be also treated with several plants, including: Rhus natalensis, Annona senegalensis, Capparis tomentosa, Garcinia buchananii and Syzygium guineense (Chinsembu and Hedimbi, 2010). The inclusion of anti-HIV ethnomedicines based drugs and other natural products in official HIV/AIDS policy is an extremely sensitive and contentious issue, because anti-HIV ethnomedicines and other natural products can easily become a scapegoat for denial and inertia to roll-out ART (Chinsembu, 2009).

Other communities: Nharo people live between the Amunis reserve in Namibia and Botswana border. Steyn (1981) reported that the Nharo collect 130 different plant species for various uses including medicines, but no details are given on the indigenous medicinal uses for these plants.

Malan and Owen-Smith (1974) conducted field work in Kaokoland and recorded 272 plant species and interviewed 60 informants about plant use. They described 192 plant species of importance to the communities, documenting their distribution in the area, growth characteristics and uses.

A study in the Khowarib Schluct area in the Kunene region conducted by McGrath (1999) described the uses of 20 plant species, including those used for medicinal purposes but the text uses local Damara plant names.

Hachfeld and Schippmann (2000) concentrated on the Devil’s claw trade. This plant is considered as the most popularly used medicinal plant in Namibia. Similiar studies are described by Craven and Sullivan (2002) and Stewart and Cole (2005). Devil’s claw which includes two species; Hapagophytum procumbens and Hapagophytum zeyheri is used in the treatment of arthritic conditions. The former species is very popular and has been commercialised, with huge exports to other countries each year. Namibia contributes 96% of world’s production of Devil’s claw with a mean of 423 tons/year in the last 15 years. Devil’s claw became a regulated product because of dangers of over-harvesting (Bennett, 2007).

Mu Ashekele (2004) reported on medical and pharmaceutical technologies in the Omusati region. The following indigenous technologies/products were studied for information collection: Okupanga oipute nozido; treatment of wounds and swelling; Endjadja, treatment of stomach pain; Oshinona; Treatment of epileptic fit; Okupanga ouzio; Treatment of poisoning; Okupanga oupulile, eemhepo veakwamhungu; Bad spirits Okuhena oluvalo; infertility Treatment. (Shapi, 2004), from a field study conducted in the Kavango region reported that some medical and pharmaceutical technologies are used by traditional healers in this region; which include: Ruvaro, Treatment of infertility for both men and women; Musira, Treatment of Haemorrhoid; Kukwika, Surgery Mukongo; Treatment of polio and Mukota; Treatment of Bleeding.

Other popular species are Hoodia gordonii and Hoodia officinalis. These are also now under cultivation and marketed for medicinal use as an appetite suppressant and for weight loss. On the Farm Jena located in the Hardap region; there are 10 ha of these two species at 60000 plants per ha to have a targeted annual production of 12 tons/year of dry material (Braun, 2007).

MEDICINAL INDIGENOUS PLANTS IN OSHIKOTO REGION, NAMIBIA: A PILOT STUDY

Overview: The database of plants occurring in Oshikoto provided by the National Herbarium of Namibia (WIND) (2007) contains 753 species. Cross-checking this list with the SEPASAL database (www.kew.org/sepasalweb/sepaweb) for plants recorded as specifically used for medicinal purposes in Namibia revealed that 36.4% of these plants have been used for this purpose. Shapi et al. (2009) conducted a field study in the Oshikoto region to collect information from traditional healers during the period September-October 2008 and reported on the use of 61 medicinal plants species that belong to 25 families for the treatment of various diseases and disorders. Trees were found to be the most used plants followed by herbs then shrubs and climbers. The average of the informant consensus factor (F_IC) value for all ailment categories was 0.75. High F_IC values were obtained for weakness and dizziness problems, snake bite, swelling and cardiovascular disorders. Table 1 summarizes the diseases, disorders and indigenous knowledge of the traditional healers on medicinal plant therapies in Oshikoto Region.

Geographic distribution of the medicinal plants: The majority of the medicinal plants in the Oshikoto region are found in the surrounding areas of the villages; however, some of the medicinal plants were from the neighboring towns such as Eenhana and Odibo in Ohangwena region and in Grootfontein and the Kavango region. Some of these plants are from Ondjiva in Angola. There is no surprise of this distribution since the major part of Oshikoto region belongs to the Cuvelai system, which is not normally preferred by some of the medicinal plants (Shapi et al., 2009).

Changes in the medicinal plants quantity: The change in quantity of the natural resources in the Oshikoto region has been attributed to natural and human factors. Sixty six percent of the respondents indicated that there has been no change in the quantity of medicinal plants in the area. This is because of the sustainable harvesting techniques they are using. Additionally, it was also reported that the number of the medicinal plants in their areas were stable because the amount of rain received has not changed too much over the years (Shapi et al., 2009). Thirty four percent of the respondents reported that there has been a change in the quantity of medicinal plants in their areas (Shapi et al., 2009). The following are observations on changes in the quantity of the medicinal plants in the Oshikoto region:

Table 1:	Medicinal plants used by traditional healers to treat different ailments in Oshikoto region, Namibia (Adopted from Shapi et al., 2009)

Despite the increasing use of medicinal plants, their future is threatened by complacency concerning their conservation. Reserves of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals (Idu and Onyibe, 2007).

Indigenous identification, part used and preparation methods of medicinal plants: Shapi et al. (2009) reported that most of the respondents indicated that the ability to demonstrate, identify and distinguish various types of medicinal plants is a pre-condition for practicing, consequently most of them they identify plants as they were taught. The roots were the most used part for the treatment of diseases followed by leaves, whole plant parts, barks, tubers, seeds, fruits, pods and stems (Table 1). The preparation method of the medicinal plant(s) depends on the type of diseases. Some plants need to be boiled while others applied directly in fresh form. Fifty percent of these plants were used in fresh and dry form combination, then with 30% in fresh form and 20% for the dry form (Table 1); however, all the respondents indicated that they prepare the medicine as they were trained by their mentors (Shapi et al., 2009). Leffers (2003) points out the existence of many modifications in the preparation of drugs from the plants and treatment of diseases within the community, as was the traditional plant use and naming, which showed a high degree of variation from village to village, even from individual to individual. The following parts of Ximenia plant: roots, leaves and barks of were found to be the most frequently used parts in the treatment of many diseases and ailment. The traditional healers prescribed their Ximenia based treatment either on single plant use like the remedies for Scoliosis, or using combination of different plants combined with Ximenia as it was prescribed for Culture Bound Syndrome (CBS), impotency and gonorrhea (Cheikhyoussef et al., 2010a).

Types of ailments and diseases treated: Forty seven traditional healers in Oshikoto region have used 61 medicinal plants to treat 43 types of ailments and diseases in both humans and animals (Table 1). Several common diseases such as back pains, chicken pox, ear infection, stroke, diarrhoea, wound healing and skin diseases were reported to be among the illnesses that traditional healers could treat (Shapi et al., 2009). Ximenia has been observed to be the most frequently used medicinal plant among traditional healers. The traditional healers have used Ximenia americana and Ximenia caffra to treat various diseases and disorders such as Lindongo: Gonorrhea; Mukayo: CBS; Uuta: Impotency and Ondjaba: Scoliosis (Cheikhyoussef et al., 2010a). The average of the Fidelity Level (FL) of the both species for all ailments was 33.33% with the highest FL for X. caffra to treat CBS of 66.66% (Cheikhyoussef et al., 2010a). Chest ailments have been treated with decoction root of the X. caffra by the San people in farm six in northern Namibia (Dan et al., 2010).

OTHER INDIGENOUS USES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN NAMIBIA

The San communities use plants for food and water (Story, 1958). Saar (1995) conducted a survey of woody plants used in west San or Bushman land for fruits and crafts. A socio-ecological survey using video recording, interviews and questionnaire surveys was conducted by Botelle and Kowalski (1999) to study the changing relationships of the Topnaar communities and their physical environment, the causes of these changes and conflicts experienced in managing the resources in the lower Kuiseb valley. They noted that !Nara (Acanthosycios horridus) harvesting for fodder and cosmetics was a key activity among the communities. Hangula et al. (1998) recorded a number of plant species used in Owamboland for various purposes. These plants are used for food: Fruits; Berchemia discolor, Sclerocarya birrea, Hyphaene petersiana, Diospyros mespiliformis; Vegetables; Cleome gynandra, Sesuvium sesuviodes and for shade; Peltophorum africanum, Entandrophragma caudatum, Adansonia digitata. Other important multipurpose plants recorded are Schinziophyton rautanenii, Strychnos madagascariensis, Nymphaea capensis, Lapeirousia littoralis and Aloe zebrina.

Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) is a particularly very important multipurpose species as it provides fruits, shade, browse, timber, crafts (Cunningham, 2007). The indigenous uses of this plant were studied by Botelle (2001) in Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshana regions. Du Plessis (2004) advocated for the promotion of growing indigenous fruit plants such as Sclerocarya birrea, Schinziophyton rautanenii, Ximenia sp., Acanthosycios horridus, Adansonia digitata, Kigelia africana, Berchemia discolor, Hyphaene petersiana, Strychnos spinosa, Diospyros mespiliformis. The San or Bushman communities use variety of poisons on their arrows to kill animals during hunting. Preparation of arrow poison is highly complex, with many variations regarding additives (Leffers, 2003). Some of the important plants to the Ju\'hoansi culture belong to the genera Brachystelma, Ceropegia, Fockea and Vigna which produce edible tubers (Leffers, 2003). Many species are eaten raw and those eaten prepared are done so in a variety of ways, sometimes this depends on the stage of plant’s development. Winter food plants include Citrulus lanatus, Schinziophyton rautanenii, Vigna labatifolia. In general, food plants are highly subject to personal preferences (Leffers, 2003) just like medicinal plants. Some plants are used as construction materials, cosmetics, tools, crafts, musical instruments, tanning and dyeing for which specific species are chosen on the basis of their properties. Social traditions are also important and some plant species are used for this, e.g., they use powdered Pterocarpus angolensis to adorn and strengthen girls when they experience their first menstruation (Leffers, 2003). The Vigorous Indigenous Vegetables for Africa (VIVA) program (Du Plessis, 2004) aims to support increased cultivation and marketing of indigenous vegetables by Namibian small-holder farmers. The program started in Nyae Nyae conservation area. The indigenous vegetables identified are Hibiscus sabdarifolia, Sesuvium sesuvioides, Cleome gynandra and Amaranthus tricolor. Du Plessis (2004) also recommended a medium-term goal for indigenous vegetable use as a better and more accessible nutrition for people with HIV/AIDS. In the Kunene region (Knott, 2007) documented the importance of Commiphora resin to the local Himba communities. They use plant resin for cosmetics, medicine, washing clothes, cleaning teeth, tanning, glue and dye. The main species used are Commiphora wildii and C. virgata. Mallet (2007) discussed the importance of the Kalahari melon; Citrulus lanatus and how it can be cultivated for the benefit of communities. Another underutilized indigenous plant in Namibia is Berchemia discolor or Eembe; which is the most popular wild fruits in the northern parts of the country (Hailwa, 2002). The indigenous people eat it fresh or dried and stored for use in the dry season. The dried fruit have a date like flavor. Fresh and dry fruit is fermented to make beer and wine (Barrion et al., 2001). A qualitative phytochemical analysis of the extracts (fruits, leaves and barks) of Berchemia discolor was conducted (Cheikhyoussef et al., 2010b). The analysis revealed the presence of terpenoids, total phenols, saponins and alkaloids in the aqueous extract; flavonoid, tannins, terpenoids, total phenols and Cardiac glycoside in the methanol extracts; Cardiac glycoside, flavonoid, terpenoids and total phenols in the ethanol extracts (Cheikhyoussef et al., 2010b). The leaves and fruits did not show the presence of Anthraquinone and Phlobatanins in any of the extracts that were tested for its presence; they are only found in barks; this could explain the indigenous use of the barks for basket dyeing by the local communities in the northern parts in Namibia (Cheikhyoussef et al., 2010b). Berchemia discolor can be seen as a potential source of useful drugs since it seems as rich source of terpenoids, total phenols, saponins, flavonoid, tannins and Cardiac glycoside. The distribution of its phytochemicals will contribute in elucidating the importance of this plant in ethnomedicine in Namibia (Cheikhyoussef et al., 2010b).

GAPS IN IKS USE FOR MEDICINAL PLANTS IN NAMIBIA

Cunningham (1997) commented that the remarkable issue is the continuity in use of few key plant species over large areas of their range in Africa for food and medicine. Such plants include: food-Sclerocarya birrea, Schinziophyton rautanenii, !nara (Acanthosycios horridus), Aspalanthus linearis, Agathosma betulina - all highly significant for hunter-gatherer communities; medicine- Prunus africana, Warburgia salutaris, Abrus precatorius, Afzelia qaunzensis, Synaptolepis kirkii, Myrothamnus flabellifolius.

Some of the gaps that have been identified are: Existing literature indicates (part of this literature is presented in this review) that we know substantially a lot on the use of indigenous plants for medicinal purposes for only a handful of cultures in Namibia, the majority of cultures still need to be studied.

Some work has been done in Owamboland, Damaraland, Kavango and Caprivi but such information has a focused bias on food and other uses of plants, with medicinal plant use aspects superficially dealt with. This gap must be addressed in further research work.

It has been demonstrated that the distribution of research efforts in Namibia on medicinal plant use has been skewed towards selected communities, especially the San communities, the Topnaar, parts of Owamboland and in Windhoek with other communities not being considered but may hold potential(s).

Some literature is focused on the practices of traditional healing that are dependent on rituals, magic and spiritual beliefs. Focus needs to be shifted to the more straight-forward, non-complex but still little-understood uses that are more relevant to improvement of primary health care.

In general, detailed ethnobotanical studies are lacking, not just in Namibia, but in many countries. Hence, future studies must collect more detail on the use of indigenous knowledge in the utilization of plant resources.