title: Uses of multiple plants prescriptions for treatment of malaria by some communities in southern Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate the uses of medicinal plants for management of malaria by the communities around Kakum National Park in southern Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained through questionnaire interviews with seven herbalists using standard ethnobotanical methods and voucher specimens where obtained of all the species used to treat malaria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 33 species in 21 plant families were identified as being used. Over 75% of the species of plants were used in combinations with one to eight other plant species for the management of malaria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study has shown that multiple plants prescriptions are most commonly used for the management of malaria in the study area. This makes it very complex to standardise and monitor the uses of the plants let alone further our understanding of the active compounds in any one species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana. aasase@ug.edu.gh
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asase
authors.forename: Dede N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Hesse
authors.forename: Monique S J
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Simmonds
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D028321:Plant Preparations