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Traditional Medicinal Plants in Two Urban Areas in Kenya (Thika and Nairobi): Diversity of Traded Species and Conservation Concerns Grace N

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Traditional Medicinal Plants in Two Urban Areas in Kenya (Thika and Nairobi): Diversity of Traded Species and Conservation Concerns Grace N Traditional Medicinal Plants in Two Urban Areas in Kenya (Thika and Nairobi): Diversity of traded species and conservation concerns Grace N. Njoroge Research Abstract In Kenya there is a paucity of data on diversity, level of de- The use and commercialization of Non-timber forest prod- mand and conservation concerns of commercialized tra- ucts which include medicinal plants has been found to be ditional medicinal plant species. A market study was un- an important livelihood strategy in developing countries dertaken in two urban areas of Central Kenya to identify where rural people are economically vulnerable (Belcher species considered to be particularly important in trade as & Schreckenberg 2007, Schackleton et al. 2009). This well as those thought to be scarce. The most common- brings about improvement of incomes and living stan- ly traded species include: Aloe secundiflora Engl, Urtica dards (Mbuvi & Boon 2008, Sunderland & Ndoye 2004). massaica Mildbr., Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkm, Me- In the trade with Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkm., for ex- lia volkensii Gürke and Strychnos henningsii Gilg. Aloe ample, significant improvement of village revenues has secundiflora, P. africana and Strychnos henningsii were been documented in some countries such as Madagas- found to be species in the markets but in short supply. car (Cunnigham et al. 1997). Plants used as medicines The supply chain in this area also includes plant species in traditional societies on the other hand, are still relevant already known to be rare such as Carissa edulis (Forssk.) as sources of natural medicines as well as raw materials Vahl and Warburgia ugandensis Sprague. Most of the for new drug discovery (Bussmann 2002, Flaster 1996, suppliers are rural herbalists (who harvest from the wild), Fyhrquiet et al. 2002, Kisangau & Kokwaro 2004, Lange while only a small proportion of the raw materials come 1997, Lewis 2002, Marshall 1998, Natarajan & Iyer, 2000, from domesticated species. Key challenges facing the Robbins 2000, Sofowora 1993, Voeks 1996, World Bank herbal industry in the region were identified and present- 2004). Harvesting of wild medicinal resources therefore is ed. an economic activity recognized both locally and interna- tionally (High & Shackleton 2000). Introduction In 2010 the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) tar- getted to achieve significant reduction in the rate of bio- logical loss. Unfortunately, there is a critical shortage of Correspondence biological data essential for implementation of strategic Grace N. Njoroge, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and conservation strategies in order to address objectives Technology, Botany Department, P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi, KE- such as these. Such data are especially urgent for tradi- NYA. tional medicinal plants previously utilized at the local com- [email protected], [email protected] munity level but now gaining commercial status in urban areas. Studies show that people in developing countries depend on wild resources for meeting their livelihoods needs (Pimentel et al. 1997). The incomes obtained from such wild resources contribute to achievements of Inter- national Development Targets (IDTs) objectives, especial- Ethnobotany Research & Applications 9:329-338 (2012) ly poverty reduction (Poole 2004). Published: July 31, 2012 www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol10/i1547-3465-10-329.pdf 330 Ethnobotany Research & Applications It is unfortunate that in some cases motivation for short- type of suppliers, origin of species, commercial species term profits neglects consideration for sustainability whose conservation status is of concern as well as chal- (Hawkins 2008), leading to resource degradation, loss of lenges facing local for purposes of capacity building in fu- selective medicinal plant populations, unstable econom- ture development of the industry. ic enterprises and loss of livelihoods for those involved (Lewu et al. 2006, Schackleton et al. 2005). Consequent- Methodology ly, it is being realised that the main constraints imped- ing the success of enterprises based on these biological Data from an earlier ethnobotanical study in Central Prov- resources is resource supply and sustainability (Ticktin ince of Kenya was collated to reveal medicinal plants con- 2004). Further, medicinal plant loss is expected to lower sidered by the rural people as significant to them. This the quality of healthcare for the people who depend on included species with multiple uses, high fidelity level and them (Ngari et al. 2010). use frequency among respondents. Data regarding trade in traditional medicinal plants coming from Central Prov- Globally there is an increase in the number of countries ince of Kenya was collected in two urban areas: Nairobi regulating the sale of botanical drugs (ethnoherbals) with city and Thika town (Figure 1). Nairobi is the capital city its value estimated at US$ 60 billion per annum (Barnes et of Kenya and is found in the Central region of Kenya. It al. 2004). This global increase in demand for ethnoherb- has now grown to become a metropolis with over 3 million als is also attributed to dissatisfaction with conventional medicine in terms of effectiveness and/or safety. Further people. Estimates show that Nairobi will become a mega- there is continued search for novel products from tradi- city of 15 million by the year 2020. Thika town, on the tional medicinal plants (Makunga et al. 2008) particularly other hand, is situated about 40 kms northeast of Nairobi for development of effective new drugs that are non-toxic and is an important market town in the Central Province of and inexpensive (Taylor et al. 2001). Kenya. The town is growing rapidly and is expected to join up with the city in formation of the metropolis. In Kenya the number of studies based on screening tradi- tional medicinal plants has increased drastically. This has led to formulation of improved botanical preparations from ETHIOPIA traditional medicinal plants which are stimulating com- mercialization of these products. Data from the Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services reveals that the number of traditional medical practitioners regis- tering their commercial enterprises/herbal clinics (usually in the urban areas) is on the increase. Further, the number UGANDA of patients being treated in these herbal clinics is on the increase, sometimes reaching well over 500 patients per KENYA month (Njoroge 2006). Central Province N Although Kenya’s herbal industry is perceived to be grow- ing, status of species involved on the urban markets has Thika not been studied. There are indications however, to show Nairobi that in some areas trade in medicinal plants may be based on a few well-known and preferred species used preferen- tially to manage most ailments (Barnett 2000, Maundu et al. 2006). Whereas such information is available for some TANZANIA Indian regions no data exists for Central Kenya and particularly Ocean in the major urban areas. This region hosts some of the major trading points in the country especially Nairobi with the current population standing at about 3 million people. Figure 1. Thika and Nairobi urban areas, Central Prov- As a follow up on an earlier comprehensive ethnobotanical ince of Kenya where research was undertaken. study of medicinal plants used in the rural areas of Central Province of Kenya (Njoroge et al. 2004, Njoroge & Buss- Initial visits were undertaken in open air markets, herbal mann, 2006a, 2006b, 2006c, 2007) the current research processing points and herbal clinics to establish possible was undertaken. Based on various indices, the current key informants for this study. The identified group com- study aimed at revealing important medicinal plants in the prised herbalists in permanent selling or treatment points, rural and urban areas of this region. For commercialized processors who receive supplies from rural areas to make species data was gathered regarding popular species in semi-processed products, wholesalers who supply retail- the trade, most difficult species to obtain/scarce species, ers in the urban areas as well as middle men who supply www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol10/i1547-3465-10-329.pdf Njoroge - Traditional Medicinal Plants in Two Urban Areas in Kenya (Thika 331 and Nairobi): Diversity of traded species and conservation concerns Table 1. Plant families of 89 most frequently mentioned (cited 5 or more times) medicinal plant species indicated as important by rural communities in Central Province of Kenya. Acanthaceae Capparaceae Euphorbiaceae Mimosaceae Rutaceae Agavaceae Caricaceae Fabaceae Moraceae Sapindiaceae Amaranthaceae Chenopodiaceae Flacourtiaceae Myrsinaceae Solanaceae Anacardiaceae Combretaceae Hydnoraceae Myrtaceae Urticaceae Apocynaceae Convolvulaceae Lamiaceae Oleaceae Verbenaceae Asparagaceae Crussulaceae Lauraceae Oliniaceae Vitaceae Asphodelaceae Cucurbitaceae Loganiaceae Rhamnaceae Asteraceae Cupressaceae Malvaceae Rosaceae Canellaceae Ebenaceae Meliaceae Rubiaceae these markets having obtained the products from farm- Results and Discussion ers or rural communities. In the case where herbal clin- ics were run by people in other professions and therefore Results on important medicinal plants in rural Central Ke- have hired not so knowledgeable personnel, telephone in- nya indicated that 89 plant species were the most fre- terviews were carried out with the business owners. quently mentioned, usually cited five or more times in the survey. Of these, 60 species were mentioned at least 10 In total, 50
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