| dc.description.abstract | The plant family Apocynaceae has been a centre of interest for
many years. It is chiefly found in the tropics of both
hemispheres although 1/3 of the species occur in Africa. The
family has about 1500 species in 150 genera. In Kenya there are
40 species in 22 genera which are well represented in K7 except
Baissea multiflora (K5), Hunteria congolana (Kl), Rauvolfia
caffra (K3-6) and Voacanga thouarsii (K5).
An attempt is hereby made to study Apocynaceae species used in
traditional medicine in Kenya. The study reveals that 25
species in 16 genera are of ethnobotanical interest. 19 species
are medicinal and 16 of these fall under the sub-family
Plumerioideae which usually has indole alkaloids. The most
common category of diseases treated are skin diseases and
ectoparasites followed by abdominal diseases, diseases of the
head, female conditions and veneral diseases. The root is the
most commonly used part of the plant and it is possible that the
alkaloids play an important role in the medicinal value of the
plants. Many Apocynaceae species are used for non-medicinal
purposes as foods, poisons, wood, fodder, and hedges.
From the field study 14 remedy reports were recorded from a
total of 10 species. A log linear model was used to analyse
this information. The 6 species with the highest interaction
rates (TIJ) are tested for biological activities. 4 of these
species have antimicrobial and molluscicidal activities.
The study also reveals that some Apocynaceae species can be
easily propagated by seeds and results also indicate that most
Apocynaceae species are found in indigenous forests which
usually have a diversity of species and sometimes endemic
species and are on the decline. Possible solutions regarding
their conservation are suggested. | en |
