An ethnobotanical and antidiarrhoeal investigation of plants used traditionally in the Maputaland area homesteads
type: CreativeWork
description: Zulu people living in the rural area of Maputaland (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) rely heavily on medicinal plants, particularly for the treatment of diarrhoea. The main aim of this study was to determine which plants are used in this area to treat diarrhoea and to validate their antidiarrhoeal efficacy against diarrhoeal-related pathogens. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in four different localities in northern Maputaland (Mabibi, Mseleni, Mbazwana/ Olakeni and Tshongwe) on plants that are used to treat diarrhoeal infections. Twenty three plant species were documented and collected in the survey. A muthi market survey was also performed where three more plant species namely Sarcophyte sanguinea, Ximenia caffra and Strychnos henningsii were identified to treat diarrhoea. Acacia burkei, Brachylaena transvaalensis, Cissampelos hirta and Sarcostemma viminale were recorded for the first time globally as antidiarrhoeal remedies. Psidium guajava was the most mentioned (43%) plant to be used traditionally to treat diarrhoea followed by Catharanthus roseus and Melia azedarach. Most of the interviewees mentioned the use of plants individually but some mentioned the use of plants in combinations. The following plants were said to be used in combination; Brachylaena transvaalensis with Psidium guajava; Sclerocarya birrea, Acanthospermum glabratum in combination with Krauseola mosambicina; Psidium guajava and Mangifera indica in combination with Sarcophyte sanguinea. Most plants were used as leaf decoctions. The study also revealed that the choice of plants used was based on the availability of the plant in and around the interviewees’ homestead. One new vernacular name was recorded which demonstrates the importance of recording this information. Antidiarrhoeal studies were performed with the crude extracts against diarrhoeal pathogens. Organic extracts of Terminalia sericea showed noteworthy antibacterial activity (mean MIC value of 0.04 mg/ml against Shigella flexneri).…
abstract: Zulu people living in the rural area of Maputaland (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) rely heavily on medicinal plants, particularly for the treatment of diarrhoea. The main aim of this study was to determine which plants are used in this area to treat diarrhoea and to validate their antidiarrhoeal efficacy against diarrhoeal-related pathogens. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in four different localities in northern Maputaland (Mabibi, Mseleni, Mbazwana/ Olakeni and Tshongwe) on plants that are used to treat diarrhoeal infections. Twenty three plant species were documented and collected in the survey. A muthi market survey was also performed where three more plant species namely Sarcophyte sanguinea, Ximenia caffra and Strychnos henningsii were identified to treat diarrhoea. Acacia burkei, Brachylaena transvaalensis, Cissampelos hirta and Sarcostemma viminale were recorded for the first time globally as antidiarrhoeal remedies. Psidium guajava was the most mentioned (43%) plant to be used traditionally to treat diarrhoea followed by Catharanthus roseus and Melia azedarach. Most of the interviewees mentioned the use of plants individually but some mentioned the use of plants in combinations. The following plants were said to be used in combination; Brachylaena transvaalensis with Psidium guajava; Sclerocarya birrea, Acanthospermum glabratum in combination with Krauseola mosambicina; Psidium guajava and Mangifera indica in combination with Sarcophyte sanguinea. Most plants were used as leaf decoctions. The study also revealed that the choice of plants used was based on the availability of the plant in and around the interviewees’ homestead. One new vernacular name was recorded which demonstrates the importance of recording this information. Antidiarrhoeal studies were performed with the crude extracts against diarrhoeal pathogens. Organic extracts of Terminalia sericea showed noteworthy antibacterial activity (mean MIC value of 0.04 mg/ml against Shigella flexneri).…
author: Nkwanyana, Mduduzi Nkosinathi
keywords: Diarrhoea, Medicinal plants, Diarrhea treatment
license: https://devspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstreams/73dcdbea-c8b9-4d78-a338-d86f13ad35ca/download
date published: 2013
date modified: 2026-07-24T06:17:25Z
provider: University of Zululand
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Zululand