Journal of Ethnopharmacology 113 (2007) 457–470 Ethnopharmacological survey of the Bunda district, Tanzania: Plants used to treat infectious diseases Sheila Mgole Maregesi a,b,∗, Olipa David Ngassapa a, Luc Pieters b, Arnold J. Vlietinck b a Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania b Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium Received 8 February 2007; received in revised form 29 May 2007; accepted 1 July 2007 Available online 10 July 2007 Abstract An ethnobotanical study was carried out in six villages in the Bunda district, Mara Region, Tanzania, where the use of plants still has a special meaning to the society, in the treatment of various diseases. Information was obtained from the traditional healers and other experienced persons, having some knowledge on medicinal plants. Fifty-two plants were reported for use in the treatment of various infectious diseases. These plants belong to 29 families, with Papilionaceae being the most represented. Leaves ranked the highest, especially for use in topical preparations. Oral administration was the most frequently used route of administration. Twenty-one percent of the recorded plants were reported for treating venereal diseases, with syphilis and gonorrhea being the most commonly mentioned. Information providers requested feedback with regard to the plants proven scientifically to be toxic in order to avoid risks while offering their services. From this work it was found out that, people in this area commonly use medicinal plants with trust they have built on the curative outcome witnessed. As the first ethnobotanical study in Bunda district recording 52 plants in a small area covered, publication of this work is expected to open up more studies to record many useful medicinal plants unfolded. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Medicinal plants; Traditional medicine; Infectious diseases; Bunda, Tanzania 1. Introduction diversity as well as endemicity in the world, as more than 1100 species are reported to be endemic in this country (Mahunnah Plants have always played a major role in the treatment and Mshigeni, 1996). of human traumas and diseases worldwide (Principe, 1991). Few ethnomedical surveys that been carried out in Tanzania They have been used as sources of drugs employed in modern resulted into compilation of many plants that are used in treat- medicine, either by providing pure compounds, starting mate- ing various diseases (Haerdi, 1964; Hedberg and Hedberg, 1982; rials for partial synthesis of useful compounds or models for Hedberg et al., 1983a, 1983b; Chhabra et al., 1987, 1989, 1990a, synthesis of new drugs (Hansel, 1972). Folklore information 1990b, 1991, 1993; Ruffo, 1991). The country covers a geo- from many different cultures is an important tool in revealing graphical area of about 945,000 km2 with a population of over plants with useful medicinal properties (Balandrin et al., 1993). 30 million, consisting of many ethnic groups. The variable phys- Since many clinically useful prescription drugs worldwide have ical features and climatic conditions in different regions provide originated from the tropical forest, it is worth to embark research- the country with the richest biological diversity in both flora and ing on tropical vegetation (Farnsworth et al., 1985) with an fauna. Many parts of the country, particularly the remote areas anticipation of obtaining more new bioactive substances. Tanza- with poor infrastructure have not been reached for the inven- nia is located in this zone with a natural forest containing about tory of medicinal plants. These rural communities are almost 10,000 species which also carry a very high degree of species totally dependent on traditional/herbal medicine for their health care needs. However, useful information about medicinal plants is still passed from one generation to another by oral commu- ∗ Corresponding author. nication, posing the danger of loosing some knowledge. There E-mail address: [email protected] (S.M. Maregesi). is, therefore, a need to carry out more research pertaining to 0378-8741/$ – see front matter © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2007.07.006 458 S.M. Maregesi et al. / Journal of Ethnopharmacology 113 (2007) 457–470 knowledge about infectious diseases, local names of plants used in the treatment of the mentioned ailments, plant parts, meth- ods of preparation, dosage, duration of use and any special condition/information about the drug. The information about each particular plant was then immediately recorded on a ques- tionnaire (see Appendix A). During fieldwork plant materials were collected for preparation of herbarium specimens and for biological testing. The plants were identified by Mr. Frank Mbago, of the Herbarium Unit, Botany Department of the Uni- versity of Dar es Salaam, by comparison with the herbarium specimens. Voucher specimens were deposited in the same herbarium. 3. Results and discussion 3.1. Information providers and criterion of plant selection There were a total of 10 informants, all of them had the pri- mary school education, except two. The informants’ attitude Fig. 1. Map of Tanzania showing Bunda district. was positive with regard to providing useful information, how- ever, it was necessary to pay some money, as an incentive for the information they provided. Medicinal plants reported in this documentation of useful medicinal plants in this country before article are those mentioned by at least five informants, except for they disappear, especially those which are already endangered Barleria eranthemoides R.Br. that was collected due to empha- by the arid climatic conditions and man made activities. Aging sis of a traditional healer that it is a useful herb for several and natural death of medicine men (Waganga) are other factors infectious diseases and that he obtained curing outcome(s). The having a negative impact on this matter/subject. frequency of mention is indicated in Table 1. The general con- The purpose of this survey was to document useful medicinal cept of infectious diseases was clear to them that, such diseases plants with a clearly defined therapeutic context of being used to were caused by very tiny organisms invisible with naked eyes. treat infectious diseases. Although ailments such as convulsions, They referred to those tiny organisms as “Tuvidudu”, meaning hypertension, asthma and infertility were beyond the scope of very tiny insects/organisms. In a very simple language some the present study, it was considered important to record plants could differentiate disease conditions of a particular organ. For that were frequently mentioned for the treatment of such health example for the stomach, the illness could be due to overeating conditions. In ethnomedical studies, the frequency by which a or indigestion, food poisoning or contamination, and surgical given plant is mentioned to be of medicinal value is a good problems, which they said were far beyond their limits. Skin indicator of its efficacy problems were classified in two types: the infectious type, such The study was conducted in Bunda district located in the as boils, athlete’s foot and cellulites, and inborn illnesses such Savannah grassland, Northern part of Tanzania (Fig. 1). as allergic conditions. 2. Methodology 3.2. Plant families, plant parts and local names The survey was carried out for a period of 28 days in The study has identified 52 plants belonging to 29 fami- July, 2000, in six villages located in Bunda district. The lies, which are used in the treatment of infectious diseases as villages included Bitaraguru, Kung’ombe, Nyasana, Kabasa, shown in Table 1. Of these families, Papilionaceae was the Kamukenga and Kangetutya. The interview was conducted most represented (27.59%) followed by Compositae (13.79%) using national language, Kiswahili, and sometimes it was nec- and Anacardiaceae, Labiatae and Mimosaceae (10.34%) each. essary to combine with local dialects to enable the informants Others represented by either 6.90 or 3.45%. to give correct information with ease. This was possible, since During plant collection, it was observed that some plants one of us (SMM) speaks those dialects fluently. There were a had more than one vernacular name due to the different local total of 10 informants, two of them were traditional healers and dialects used in the area. The medicinal use of certain plants the rest were family members and other individuals who gained or plant parts were commonly mentioned by informants. Thus, knowledge on medicinal uses of plants, from their parents or in some cases, especially shrubs and trees, the whole plant had relatives and had used the plants with promising results. medicinal application. Interviews and fieldwork were done on alternate days. The Leaves were the most frequently used plant parts, espe- interviews were in the form of group discussions, in groups of cially for topical application, constituting 38.6%, followed by three or four people, except for the traditional healers who pre- roots (28.6%), stems (20%), whole plant (10%) and fruit/seeds ferred confidentiality. Information was sought concerning their (2.8%). S.M. Maregesi et al. / Journal of Ethnopharmacology 113 (2007) 457–470 459 Table 1 Plants used to treat infections in Bunda district Plant name (family, Latin, Frequency of Vernacular name(s) Medicinal