Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
View/ Open
Date
2008Author
Nanyingi, MO
Mbaria, JM
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background:
Ethnobotanical pharmacopoeia is confidently
used in disease intervention and there
is need for documentation and preservation of
traditional medical knowledge to bolster the
discovery of novel drugs. The
objective of the present study
was to document the indigenous
medicinal plant utilization, management and their
extinction threats in Samburu District, Kenya.
Methods:
Field research was conducted in six divi
sions of Samburu District in Kenya. We
randomly sampled 100 consented interviewees stra
tified by age, gender, occupation and level of
education. We collected plant use data throug
h semi-structured questionnaires; transect walks,
oral interviews and focus groups discussions. Vo
ucher specimens of all cited botanic species were
collected and deposited
at University of Nairobi's botany herbarium.
Results:
Data on plant use from the informants yiel
ded 990 citations on 56 medicinal plant species,
which are used to treat 54 different animal and
human diseases includin
g; malaria, digestive
disorders, respiratory syndromes and ectoparasites.
Conclusion:
The ethnomedicinal use of plant species
was documented in the study area for
treatment of both human and ve
terinary diseases. The local po
pulation has high ethnobotanical
knowledge and has adopted sound management co
nservation practices. The major threatening
factors reported were anthropo
genic and natural. Ethnomedical documentation and sustainable
plant utilization can support drug disc
overy efforts in developing countries
URI
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1746-4269-4-14.pdfhttp://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/51192
Citation
Nanyingi, M. O., Mbaria, J. M., Lanyasunya, A. L., Wagate, C. G., Koros, K. B., Kaburia, H. F., ... & Ogara, W. O. (2008). Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 4, 14.Publisher
University of Nairobi, college of agriculture and veterinary sciences,