MEDICINAL PLANTS CULTIVATED IN BAPEDI TRADITIONAL HEALERS HOMEGARDENS, LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

Authors

  • S S Semenya
  • M J Potgieter

Keywords:

Bapedi, traditional healers, home-gardens, herbal medicines.

Abstract

Background: Plants used for medicinal purposes are very common feature in Bapedi traditional healer’s home-gardens, but information about their diversity and application is not available. Materials and methods: To investigate medicinal plants found in Bapedi healer’s home-gardens, 51 traditional health practitioners were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire in 17 municipalities of the Limpopo Province of South Africa, during the first half of 2013. Results: A total of 43 plant species (67.4% indigenous and 32.5% exotics) from 32 families, mostly from the Asteraceae and Apocynaceae (9.3% each) were documented. Species cultivated in home-gardens were used to treat three major groups of ailments that include sexually transmitted infections (44.1%), chronic diseases of life style (44.1%) and reproductive ailments (32.5%). The exotics Catharanthus roseus (54.9%) and Carica papaya (15.6%) was the most cultivated. Threatened (11.6%) and protected (6.9%) species are also present in home-gardens, mostly due to their unavailability in natural areas. Conclusion: This study concludes that the practice of cultivating medicinal plant species in home-gardens is a positive development that in the long term will sustain both species and accompanying indigenous knowledge, as well as preserve the cultural identity of the Bapedi.

Author Biography

S S Semenya

Department of Biodiversity, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa

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Published

2014-08-18

How to Cite

Semenya, S. S., & Potgieter, M. J. (2014). MEDICINAL PLANTS CULTIVATED IN BAPEDI TRADITIONAL HEALERS HOMEGARDENS, LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 11(5), 126–132. Retrieved from https://journals.athmsi.org/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/2824

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Section

Research Papers