title: An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by traditional health practitioners to manage HIV and its related opportunistic infections in Mpoza, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to identify and document plants traditionally used to manage HIV and treat its opportunistic infections (OIs) in Mpoza, a rural village located in the Mount Frere Alfred Nzo District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 18 traditional health practitioners from January 2012 to August 2012 to obtain information about medicinal plants used in the management of HIV and treatment of OIs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen plant species belonging to 12 families were identified for the management of HIV and treatment of OIs in Mpoza. The identified plant species belonged mostly to the families Asparagaceae (12%), Araliaceae (12%), Apiaceae (12%), Xanthorrhoeaceae (12%) and Lamiaceae (12%). The remaining 40% of identified plant species was evenly split over seven families - Urticaceae, Hypoxidaceae, Leguminosae, Verbenaceae, Rosaceae, Compositae and Rutaceae. The most frequently used medicinal plants were Hypoxis hemerocallidea (85%), Asparagus densiflorus (68%) and Lessertia frutescens (68%). The leaves (43.5%) and roots (21.7%) were the most frequently used plant parts, usually prepared as infusions and decoctions for oral administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides documentation of medicinal plants used in the management of HIV and treatment of commonly associated OIs, which might provide a potential lead that will significantly contribute in reducing the burden of HIV infections in South Africa. We envisage that this paper will provide some background for further studies in developing new, effective, safe and affordable plant-derived medicines.
authors.affiliation: South African Herbal Science and Medicine Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa. Electronic address: ghughes@uwc.ac.za.
authors.forename: Hughes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gail
authors.affiliation: South African Herbal Science and Medicine Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
authors.forename: Blouws
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tarryn
authors.affiliation: South African Herbal Science and Medicine Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
authors.forename: Aboyade
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oluwaseyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
authors.forename: Davids
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Denver
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
authors.forename: Mbamalu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oluchi
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR), University of Amsterdam (UvA), P.O. Box 15718, 1001 NE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Van't Klooster
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Charlotte
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR), University of Amsterdam (UvA), P.O. Box 15718, 1001 NE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: De Jong
authors.initials: de J
authors.lastname: Joop
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gibson
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019448:Ethnobotany; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: Ethnobotanical survey; HIV; Opportunistic infections; South Africa; Traditional medicine Africa; Tuberculosis