Traditional plants used for medicinal purposes by local communities around the Northern sector of Kibale National Park, Uganda

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe study was done to establish medicinal plants used in the treatment of various diseases by the people in the Northern sector of Kibale National Park in western Uganda. It was also aimed at establishing the plant parts used and the mode of preparation of remedies. These plants create a basis for phytochemical evaluation which can lead to the discovery of biologically active compounds that can be used as starting materials in the development of new drugs targeting selected diseases such as malaria.Materials and methodsThe required information was obtained using open interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions and transect walks.ResultsDifferent medicinal plants (131 species) distributed over 55 families were observed to be used by the local communities around the Northern sector of Kibale National Park. The plants as reported in this paper are used to treat 43 physical illnesses/diseases. The most used parts of the plants are the leaves. Water is the main medium used for the preparation of the remedies which are mostly administered orally.ConclusionThe people in the study area have a rich heritage of traditional plants that are used in the health care system to treat diseases. These medicinal plants have contributed significantly to several disease therapies. The most common diseases treated are malaria and cough, which are mostly treated by Vernonia amygdalina Del. and Albizia coriaria Welw. respectively. The main sources of medicinal plants include bush land, home gardens, grasslands, and the forest.

The study documented 131 plant species used by the people in the northern sector of Kibale National Park to treat different diseases. The most used plants were Vernonia amygdalina, Albizia coriaria and Bidens pilosa. There is also need to validate the use and effectiveness of plants like Albizia coriaria.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide