| dc.description.abstract | Ethnopharmacological relevance: The purpose of this study was to carry out a survey and document
plants used in Meru-central district by traditional healers with emphasis on those used as biopesticides.
Materials and methods: The study was carried out at Igane and Gatuune sub-locations, Abothuguchi
East division of Meru-Central district, Kenya. The data collection involving 23 traditional healers was
done using semi-structured questionnaire, focused group discussion and transect walks. Plants samples
were collected and botanically identified at the herbarium of the Department of Land Resource
Management and Agriculture Technology in the University of Nairobi.
Results: The results of the ethnobotanical survey revealed that herbalists belonged to both gender with the
majority being male (82.6%) and female (17.4%). Their ages ranged from 28 to 82 years. Seventy (70) plant
species, belonging to 35 families, were identified as being used as biopesticides and also as medicinal. The
families encountered were Asteraceae (10%), Euphorbiaceae (8.6%), Lamiaceae (8.6%), Fabaceae(8.6%),
Caesalpiniaceae (5.7%), Rubiaceae (5.7%), Liliaceae (4.3%), Apocynaceae (2.9%), Flacourtiaceae (2.9%),
Verbenaceae (2.9%) and the rest of the 24 families had 1.4% each. These medicinal plants were used to
treat and manage a wide range of diseases and conditions including parasitic, microbial, helminthosis,
protozoa, cuts and wounds, fractures, dental, arthritis, allergic, snake bites, reproductive as well as
metabolic. Among the plants used, shrubs were the commonest at 42.8%; trees were 32.9%, while herbs
and liana were at 22.9% and 1.4%, respectively. Majority of the respondents used leaves, roots and bark to
make their herbal preparations with only a few using seeds, flowers, whole plant, flower sap and pods. The
plants that were cited by the respondents to be used as biopesticides were Prectranthus barbatus Andr.
(47.8%), Tephrosia vogelii Hookf. (39.1%), Ocimum gratissimum L (34.7%), Vernonia lasiopus O.Hoffm. (8.7%),
Cascabella thevetia( L.)Lippold (4.3%) and Oncoba routledgei Sprague (4.3%).
Conclusion: Meru central district is rich in biodiversity of biopesticides and other medicinal plants and
there is need for further pharmacological studies to validate their use as potential drugs for pests and
disease control. | en |
