Medicinal plants cultivated in Bapedi traditional healers homegardens, Limpopo Province, South Africa.
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.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Department of Biodiversity, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.
S S
SS
Semenya
Department of Biodiversity, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.
M J
MJ
Potgieter
D029062:Apocynaceae; D019659:Asteraceae; D029441:Carica; D030008:Catharanthus; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D051639:Gardening; D006801:Humans; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D044382:Population Groups; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D028321:Plant Preparations
Bapedi; herbal medicines; home-gardens; traditional healers