Download PDF
Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2000; 2(1): 83-92
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-296
Original Paper
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Medicinal Plants of the Washambaa (Tanzania): Documentation and Ethnopharmacological Evaluation

Christina Schlage 1 , C. Mabula 2 , R. L. A. Mahunnah 3 , and M. Heinrich 1,4
  • 1 Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Albert-Ludwigs Universität, Freiburg, Germany
  • 2 Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Lushoto Silvicultural Research Station, Lushoto, Tanzania
  • 3 Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
  • 4 Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, UK
Further Information

Publication History

July 6, 1999

September 23, 1999

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract:

Medicinal plants are an important local resource for the Washambaa of the Western Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. In this study the Washambaa medicinal plants are inventoried. It is based on ethnobotanical fieldwork carried out over 15 months. This study presents for the first time an analysis of medicinal plants used in Africa with a ranking of these taxa by the frequency of their reported use. A total of 328 taxa were collected and yielded 2260 individual use reports. The most popular species are Myrica salicifolia and Toddalia asiatica. Subsequently, the use reports were arranged into 9 groups of medicinal uses based on the types of illness treated. The Factor of Informant Consensus (FIC) is used in order to evaluate the ethnobotanical importance of the plants. The largest number of plants and of use reports are in the group of gastrointestinal disorders. For the most commonly used taxa, an ethnopharmacological evaluation was performed. Studies to evaluate the Washambaa therapeutic claims as well as toxicological data are still lacking for many of the species. This study will form the basis for pharmacological and phytochemical research on selected Washambaa medicinal plants.

Abbreviations:

FIC: Factor of Informant Consensus nur: number of use-reports in each category nt: number of taxa in each category UR: use-reports

Key words:

Medicinal plants - ethnobotany - ethnopharmacology - traditional medicine - Tanzania - Usambara Mountains - Washambaa

References

  • 01 Alemayehu,  G.,, Hailau,  A.,, and Abegaz,  B. M.. (1996);  Bianthraquinones from Senna didymobotrya. .  Phytochemistry. 42 1423-1425
    Google Scholar
  • 02 Amer,  M. E.. (1991);  The tetracyclic Erythrina alkaloids.  Journal of Natural Products. 54 329-363
    Google Scholar
  • 03 Baldé,  A. M.,, Vanhaelen,  M.,, and Ottinger,  R.. (1987);  A chromone from the root-bark of Harrisonia abyssinica. .  Phytochemistry. 26 2415-2416
    Google Scholar
  • 04 Balick,  M. J.,, Elisabetsky,  E.,, Laird,  S. A., eds.. (1997) Medicinal Resources of the Tropical Forest. Biodiversity and its Importance to the Human Welfare. New York; Columbia Univ. Pr. (Biology and resource management series)
    Google Scholar
  • 05 Barthlott,  W.,, Biedinger,  N.,, Braun,  G.,, Feig,  F.,, Kier,  G.,, and Mutke,  J.. (1999);  Terminological and methodological aspects of the mapping and analysis of the global biodiversity.  Acta Botanica Fennica. 162 103-110
    Google Scholar
  • 06 Brett,  J. A., and Heinrich,  M.. (1998);  Culture, perception and the environment: The role of chemosensory perception.  Angewandte Botanik. 72 67-69
    Google Scholar
  • 07 Calixto,  J. B.,, Yunes,  R. A.,, and Rae,  G. A.. (1991);  Effect of the crude extract from Leonotis nepaetifolia (Labiatae) on rat and guinea-pig smooth muscle and rat cardiac muscle.  J. Pharm. Pharmacol.. 43 529-534
    Google Scholar
  • 08 Carpani,  G.,, Orsini,  F.,, Sisti,  M.,, and Verotta,  L.. (1989);  Saponins from Albizzia anthelmintica. .  Phytochemistry. 28 863-866
    Google Scholar
  • 09 Chakraborty,  A.,, Chowdhury,  B. K.,, and Bhattacharyya,  P.. (1995);  Clausenol and Clausenine - two carbazole alkaloids from Clausena anisata. .  Phytochemistry. 40 295-298
    Google Scholar
  • 10 Chhabra,  S. C.,, Mahunnah,  R. L. A.,, and Mshiu,  E. N.. (1987);  Plants used in traditional medicine in Eastern Tanzania I.  Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 21 253-277
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Chhabra,  S. C.,, Mahunnah,  R. L. A.,, and Mshiu,  E. N.. (1989);  Plants used in traditional medicine in Eastern Tanzania II.  Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 25 339-359
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Chhabra,  S. C.,, Mahunnah,  R. L. A.,, and Mshiu,  E. N.. (1990 a);  Plants used in traditional medicine in Eastern Tanzania III.  Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 28 255-283
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Chhabra,  S. C.,, Mahunnah,  R. L. A.,, and Mshiu,  E. N.. (1990 b);  Plants used in traditional medicine in Eastern Tanzania IV.  Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 29 295-323
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Chhabra,  S. C.,, Mahunnah,  R. L. A.,, and Mshiu,  E. N.. (1991);  Plants used in traditional medicine in Eastern Tanzania V.  Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 33 143-157
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Chhabra,  S. C.,, Mahunnah,  R. L. A.,, and Mshiu,  E. N.. (1993);  Plants used in traditional medicine in Eastern Tanzania VI.  Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 39 83-103
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Cotton,  C. M.. (1996) Ethnobotany. Principles and application. Chichester; John Wiley & Sons
    Google Scholar
  • 17 De Vries,  P. J., and Dien,  T. K.. (1996);  Clinical pharmacology and therapeutic potential of artemisinin and its derivatives in the treatment of malaria.  Drugs. 52 818-836
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Fabry,  W.,, Okemo,  P. O.,, and Ansorg,  R.. (1998);  Antibacterial activity of East African medicinal plants.  Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 60 79-84
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Feierman,  S.. (1974) The Shambaa kingdom. A history. Madison; The University of Wisconsin Press
    Google Scholar
  • 20 Feierman,  S.. (1992) Peasant intellectuals. Anthropology and histora in Tanzania. Madison; The University of Wisconsin Press
    Google Scholar
  • 21 Fleuret,  A.. (1979);  The role of wild foliage plants in the diet. A case study from Lushoto, Tanzania.  Ecology of Food and Nutrition. 8 87-93
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Fleuret,  A.. (1980);  Nonfood uses of plants in Usambara.  Economic Botany. 34 320-333
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Frei,  B.,, Sticher,  O.,, and Heinrich,  M.. (1998);  Medical ethnobotany of the Zapotecs of the Isthmus-Sierra (Oaxaca, Mexico): Documentation and assessment of indigenous uses.  Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 62 (2) 149-165
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Gakunyu,  D. M. N.,, Mberu,  E. K.,, Dossaji,  S. F.,, Gray,  A. I.,, Waigh,  R. D.,, Waterman,  P. G.,, and Watkins,  W. M.. (1995);  Potent antimalarial activity of the alkaloid nitidine, isolated from a Kenyan herbal remedy.  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 39 2606-2609
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Galal,  M.,, Bashir,  A. K.,, Salih,  A. M.,, and Adam,  S. E. I.. (1991);  Activity of water extracts of Albizia anthelmintica and A. lebbek barks against experimental Hymenolepis diminuta infection in rats.  Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 31 333-337
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Gessler,  M.,, Nkunya,  M. H. H.,, Mwasumbi,  L. B.,, Heinrich,  M.,, and Tanner,  M.. (1994);  Screening Tanzanian medicinal plants for antimalarial activity.  Acta Tropica. 56 65-77
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Haerdi,  F.. (1964) Die Eingeborenen-Heilpflanzen des Ulanga-Distriktes, Tanganyika. Basel; Acta Tropica Supplement 8
    Google Scholar
  • 28 Hassanali,  A.,, Bentley,  M. D.,, Slawin,  A. M. Z.,, Williams,  D. J.,, Shephard,  R. N.,, and Chapya,  A. W.. (1987);  Pedonin, a spiro tetranortriterpenoid insect antifeedant from Harrisonia abyssinica. .  Phytochemistry. 26 573-575
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Heinrich,  M.,, Ankli,  A.,, Frei,  B.,, Weimann,  C.,, and Sticher,  O.. (1998);  Medicinal Plants in Mexico: Healers' consensus and cultural importance.  Social Science and Medicine. 47 1863-1875
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Homer,  K. A.,, Manji,  F.,, and Beighton,  D.. (1992);  Inhibition of peptidase and glycosidase activities of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola by plant extracts.  J. Clin. Peridontol.. 19 305-310
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Ishii,  H.,, Kobayashi,  J. I.,, Ishikawa,  M.,, Haginiwa,  J.,, and Ishikawa,  T.. (1991);  Studies on the constituents of rutaceaous plants LXVI. the chemical constituents of Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. (T. aculeata Pers.) 1. Chemical constituents of the root-bark.  Yakugaku Zasshi. 111 365-375
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Johns,  T.,, Kokwaro,  J. O.,, and Kimanani,  E. K.. (1990);  Herbal remedies of Luo of Siaya District, Kenya: Establishing quantitative criteria for consensus.  Economic Botany. 44 369-381
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Kavimani,  S.,, Vetrichelvan,  T.,, Ilango,  R.,, and Jaykar,  B.. (1996);  Antiinflammatory activity of the volatile oil of Toddalia asiatica. .  Indian J. Pharm. Science. 58 67-70
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Kioy,  D.,, Gray,  A. I.,, and Waterman,  P. G.. (1990);  A comparative study of the stem-bark drimane sesquiterpenes and leaf volatile oils of Warburgia ugandensis and W. stuhlmannii. .  Phytochemistry. 29 3535-3538
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Kirtikar,  K. R., and Basu,  B. D.. (1935) Indian Medicinal Plants. 2nd Ed., rev., enl., and mostly rewritten by Blatter, E., Caius, J. F, and Mhaskar, K. S. Dehra Dun.; Singh Publ
    Google Scholar
  • 36 Kokwaro,  J. O.. (1976) Medicinal plants of East Africa. Kampala; East African Literature Bureau
    Google Scholar
  • 37 Kubo,  I.. (1988);  Polygodial, an antifungal potentiator.  Journal of Natural Products. 51 22-29
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Lakshmi,  V.,, Raj,  K.,, Kapil,  R. S.,, and Patanik,  G. K.. (1986);  Spasmolytic activity of furanocumarins from Clausena anisata. .  Indian Drugs. 24 285-287
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Mazzanti,  G.,, Falconieri,  E. G.,, Mgune,  Y.,, and Piccinelli,  D.. (1983);  Occurence of histamine and related imidazole compounds in extracts from root and trunk bark of Albizzia adianthifolia, Albizzia anthelmintica and Albizzia julibrissin. .  Fitoterapia. 54 275-279
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Moerman,  D. E.. (1996);  An analysis of the food plants and drug plants of native North America.  Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 52 1-22
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Moerman,  D. E.. (1998) Native American Ethnobotany. Portland (Or.); Timber Pr
    Google Scholar
  • 42 Moody,  J. O.,, Adeleye,  S. A.,, Gundidza,  M. G.,, and Wyllie,  G.. (1994);  Analysis of the essential oil of Artemisia afra. .  Pharmazie. 49 935-936
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 Moriyasu,  M.,, Ichimaru,  M.,, Nishiyama,  Y.,, Kato,  A.,, Mathenge,  S. G.,, Juma,  F. D.,, and Nganga,  J. N.. (1998);  Minor flavanones from Erythrina abyssinica. .  Journal of Natural Products. 61 185-188
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 44 Ngajui,  B. T.,, Ayafor,  J. F.,, and Sondengam,  B. L.. (1989);  Limonoids from Clausena anisata. .  Journal of Natural Products. 52 832-836
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 Ngajui,  B. T.,, Mouncheru,  S. M.,, Ayafor,  J. F.,, Sondengam,  B. L.,, and Tillequin,  F.. (1991);  Geranyl coumarins from Clausena anisata. .  Phytochemistry. 30 2809-2811
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 46 Rodgers,  W. A., and Homewood,  K. M.. (1982);  Species richness and endemism in the Usambara mountains forests, Tanzania.  Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 18 197-242
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 47 Schlage,  C.. (1969) Observations at a local market. Investigations in health and nutrition in East Africa. Kraut, H. and Cremer, H.-D., eds. München; Weltforum Verlag 84
    Google Scholar
  • 48 Silbernagel,  E.,, Spreitzer,  H.,, and Buchbauer,  G.. (1990);  Nichtflüchtige Inhaltstoffe von Artemisia afra. .  Monatshefte für Chemie. 121 433-436
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 49 Watt,  J. M., and Breyer-Brandwijk,  M. G.. (1962) The medicinal plants and poisonous plants of Southern and Eastern Africa. 2nd ed. Edinburgh; E. and S. Livingstone
    Google Scholar
  • 50 Weimann,  C., and Heinrich,  M.. (1997);  Indigenous medicinal plants in Mexico: The example of the Nahua (Sierra de Zonglicia).  Botanica Acta. 110 62-72
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 51 WHO, . (1991) Traditional Medicine and Modern Health Care. Progress Report by the Director. A44/10. Genf; WHO, Forty-Fourth World Health Assembly
    Google Scholar
  • 52 Jakupovic,  J.,, Klemeyer,  H.,, Bohlmann,  F.,, and Graven,  E. H.. (1988);  Glaucolides and guaianolides from Artemisia afra. .  Phytochemistry. 27 1129-1133
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

M. Heinrich

Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy The School of Pharmacy University of London

29/39 Brunswick Square

London, WC1N 1AX

UK

Section Editor: G. Gottsberger

Email: heinrich@cua.ulsop.ac.uk

      >