Ethnobotanical investigation of medicinal plants used to treat and manage childhood diseases in North West Province, South Africa

In Southern Africa, childhood diseases such as diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and pneumonia remain common and contributes to the increasing high rate of child mortality. Even though a significant portion of population depend on traditional medicine for their healthcare needs, systematic documentation of valuable medicinal plants remains poorly explored. This study was aimed at documenting medicinal plants used for the treatment and management childhood diseases in the North West province, South Africa. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted with 101 participants through semi-structured interviews (face-to-face). Information such as local name of plants, medicinal use, method and part were collected and analyzed. A total of 44 medicinal plants from 25 families were identified. Aptosinum elongatum with 0.69 Cultural importance index (CI) and 70.2 Fidelity level (FL) values, Bulbine frutescens 0.20 CI and 20.7 FL and Euphorbia prostrata 0.316 CI and FL 30.6 were the most commonly used plants for treating and managing a variety of childhood diseases in the study area.

Aptosinum elongatumalso had the highest FL among the documented plants. Leaves and roots were the most commonly used plant parts. Decoction and maceration were the main methods of preparation and the plant remedies were mainly administered orally. Skin-related disease, sunken fontanelle, urinary related diseases were the most prevalent childhood diseases treated and managed by the participants.

The traditional health practitioners possess rich ethno-pharmacological knowledge and depend largely on naturally growing plants. The rich pool of plants and their diverse uses remain an essential drive for future research.

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

The opinions, conclusions/recommendations herein this study are based on the findings of the authors, therefore, the funder(s) accepts no liability whatsoever in this regard.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 December 2021