title: A study of the medicinal plants used by the Marakwet Community in Kenya.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The medicinal plants used by herbalists in Kenya have not been well documented, despite their widespread use. The threat of complete disappearance of the knowledge on herbal medicine from factors such as deforestation, lack of proper regulation, overexploitation and sociocultural issues warrants an urgent need to document the information. The purpose of the study was to document information on medicinal plants used by herbalists in Marakwet District towards the utilization of indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge for the advancement of biomedical research and development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi- structured oral interviews were conducted with 112 practicing herbalists. The types of plants used were identified and the conditions treated recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Herbal practice is still common in the district, and 111 plants were identified to have medicinal or related uses. Different herbal preparations including fruits and healing vegetables are employed in the treatment of various medical conditions. Veterinary uses and pesticides were also recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study provides comprehensive ethnobotanical information about herbal medicine and healing methods among the Marakwet community. The identification of the active ingredients of the plants used by the herbalists may provide some useful leads for the development of new drugs.
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kipkore
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wanjohi
authors.forename: Hillary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rono
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Moi University School of Medicine, P,O, Box 4606, Eldoret, Kenya. kigengfk@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kigen
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal