An ethnopharmacological study of plants used for treating respiratory infections in rural Maputaland

This study aimed, firstly, to perform an ethnobotanical survey, focusing on lay people’s knowledge on plants used for treating respiratory infections in northern Maputaland, KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa. Eighty homesteads were visited purposively and ethnobotanical information was gathered using structured questionnaires. The study documented 30 plant species, with Acanthospermum glabratum, Aloe marlothii, Krauseola mosambicina, Ozoroa obovata, Parinari capensis subsp. incohata and Plectranthus neochilus recorded for the first time, globally, as medicinal plants used for treating respiratory ailments and related symptoms. The two most frequently used plant species were the indigenous Lippia javanica, followed by the exotic Eucalyptus grandis. Both these plant species are highly aromatic. For eight of the 30 plant species used, new vernacular names, not recorded before, were given by the interviewees. Although six of the 80 interviewees were healers, the current study focused on lay knowledge, which makes the information recorded during the current survey invaluable.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Zululand

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• York, Talita

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• de Wet, H.
• Van Vuuren, S.F.

• Ethno-botanical
• Respiratory infections -- plants
• Respiratory infections -- treatment

Licence

• https://devspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstreams/886de888-adda-4810-9384-7194999b1f2d/download