An ethnobotanical survey of the medicinal plants used in the treatment of cancer in some parts of Matebeleland, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants for the treatment of diseases is a common practice in many parts of the world including Zimbabwe. The study provides ethnobotanical data on the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of cancer in some parts of Matebeleland, Zimbabwe. The study aimed to document the use of these plants to preserve knowledge for future generations. The study was conducted in five districts of Matebeleland, Zimbabwe using open-ended semi-structured interviews. Information on the plant species used in the treatment of cancer in some parts of Matebeleland, Zimbabwe was recorded, and this included the following: local name, plant habit, plant part used, method of preparation, and administration. A report on each species was summarised using ethnobotanical indices such as Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC). A total of 25 informants were interviewed in the study and 16 medicinal plants were cited for the treatment of cancer. The collected plant species comprised 31% trees, 31% herbs, 13% shrubs, and 19% mistletoes. The plant species were distributed amongst 11 plant families with Lamiaceae (19%) and Solanaceae (19%) being the most dominant. Different plant parts were used and these included stem bark, root bark, seeds, fruits, tubers, and whole plant. The stem bark (38%) was the most predominant, followed by the use of the whole plant (31%). The RFC values ranged from 0.04 to 0.16 with Datura stramonium L. having the highest value. The results of the study show that the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer is still a common practice in some parts of Matebeleland, Zimbabwe.