Anthropology Put to Work: The Potential Role of Anthropology in the Recognition and Regulation of Traditional Medicines

A qualitative study was carried to assess prospects and challenges of medicinal plants conservation and traditional medicine in Tanzania. The study shows that TRM and medicinal have great prospects in healthcare delivery worldwide. These prospects have more impact in developing countries where 70%-80% of population used TRM for Primary Healthcare (PHC). It is reported that 25% of prescribed drugs in conventional healthcare were derived from their ethnomedicinal use in TRM. Medicinal plants still provided hope for discovery of new drugs for the resistant diseases and those that were not treated by conventional prescribed drugs. Traditional medicine and medicinal plants were faced with challenges notably; threats due to increasing depletion of the natural resource as an impact of population increase, urbanization, modernization of agriculture and climatic change. There was erosion of indigenous medical knowledge as most of the traditional health practitioners were aging and dying, while the expected youths to inherit the practice shy away from practice. The youths in rural settings who were willing to practice some of them die because of AIDS. The other major challenges on traditional medicine and MPs were constraints and include lack of data on seriously threatened and endangered medicinal plant species. Others include inadequate and conflicting guidelines on management and utilization of natural resources, especially medicinal plants. Efforts for scaling up the practice of TRM and medicinal plant conservation have been suggested. These were creating awareness of the importance traditional medicine and medicinal plants in healthcare; training THPs on good practices for provision of healthcare; conserving medicinal plants through in-situ and ex-situ programs and sustainable harvesting of medicinal plants resources and training conventional health workers on the contribution of TRM and medicinal plants in PHC. Traditional health practitioners, TRM and medicinal plants should be essential components in PHC in order to meet the health millennium goals by 2025.

Background: Traditional knowledge is essentially important for the health of millions of people in developing countries. India stands as the largest producer of medicinal plants. Medicinal plants described in Ayurvedic classics are traditional medicinal plants (TMAPs). TMAPs, their traditional geographical origin (TGO), their pharmaceutical qualities, and their clinical effects are interdependent entities. Presently, Ayurvedic medicines are in a pharmaceutical quality crisis therefore their clinical efficacy is not sustained. Geographical indication (GI) is a globally exercised intellectual property right (IPR). It has an impact on the trade of Ayurvedic medicines. GI differentiation to TMAPs used in Ayurvedic medicines is the need of time. Aim: Enlighten the scope of GI differentiation to TMAPs used in Ayurvedic medicines for reputation and recognition of their superior pharmaceutical quality, clinical efficacy and economic value. Method: Literature searches on the electronic online databases are carried done for the study. Result: TGO of TMAPs having special medicative health are eligible for enrollment and conservation under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 in India. Some 30 TMAPs have received GI certification in India. The Chinese concept of geo-authentic botanicals (GAB) and the European concept of designation of origin (DO) and appellation of origin (AO) are special classes of GI. Conclusion: GI responsibly promotes TMAPs internationally and globally. GAB is superior to other pharmaceutical qualities. Better the pharmaceutical qualities of TMAPs better are the clinical effect of Ayurvedic medicines. GI doubles the monetary standard of the product. It also protects the herbal landraces and prevents the risk of losing TMAPs uniqueness.

BackgroundThe Chuanqing people (穿青人) are a linguistic group native to the Guizhou Province of China, with unique culture and rich knowledge of traditional medicinal plants. Herbal market at Dragon Boat Festival (DBF) plays an important role in the inheritance of traditional medicinal knowledge among the Chuanqing people. This study aims to record the profile of medicinal plants of the Chuanqing people, discuss the dilemmas faced by their inheritance, and propose some strategies for passing down information, which is critical for the inheritance and protection of the Chuanqing people’s traditional medical knowledge.MethodsData were collected through key informants and semi-structured interviews and free listing. Collected voucher specimens were identified using by botanical taxonomy method and deposited in the herbarium. Data were analyzed through use-value (UV) and cultural importance index (CI) values. Medicinal plants were compared with the Information System of Chinese Rare and Endangered Plants of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Results were compared with the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (ChP), the Quality Standard of Traditional Chinese Medicine and National Medicine in Guizhou Province (QSG), and traditional medicines of Southeast Asian countries.ResultsA total of 102 species from 53 families and 92 genera were recorded, with Orchidaceae and Asparagaceae (six species each), and Berberidaceae and Asteraceae (five species each) as the predominant families. The whole plant (36%) was the most common medicinal part. Decoction (44%) was the most common preparation method. Seventy-one investigated human ailments were grouped into 12 categories. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system (34 mentions) were most frequently mentioned in this study. Moreover, the most frequently used taxon was Hedera sinensis (Tobler) Hand.-Mazz. (UV and CI = 0.29). The Chuanqing people’s medicine was highly similar to ChP and QSG. In comparison with Southeast Asian countries’ traditional medicines, except for the same preparation methods, the similarities in terms of medicinal ingredients, plants, and disease treatment were very low.ConclusionsThe herbal market at the DBF is an important platform for exchanging knowledge about the Chuanqing people’s traditional medicinal plants. The Chuanqing people’s traditional medicine is facing many challenges to its inheritance and development. To solve these problems, this study highlights the traditional medicinal knowledge of the Chuanqing people, providing basic data for further research and protection of minority medicine.

Community service with the title: Utilization and how to formulate medicinal plant of African leaf (Vernonia amygdalina Delile) in Keerom Papua, aims to provide the skills of Arsopura Village community in Skamto District of Keerom Regency. The aims to this activities is the use and how to formulate antidiabetic medicinal plants. Diabetes mellitus is a disease caused due to metabolic disorders of the body, where the sugar content in the body can not be catalyzed by the enzyme insulin which was produced the pancreas gland. Herbal antidiabetes formulated from African leaf plants is a traditional knowledge based on local wisdom Kerom community hereditary used to cure diabetes melitus diseases. This activities is an effort to raise the local wisdom about traditional medicine that has been empirically or hereditary has been used as a traditional medicine antidiabetes. Utilization of herbs of traditional medicinal plants need to be socialized by providing skills how to use it and how to formulate to local communities in the Arsopura Village, Keerom regency according to the guidelines regulation of the Supervision of Food and Drug Indonesian Government about the Making of Good Traditional Drugs (CPOTB). According to Institution of Supervision of Food and Drug Indonesian Government that traditional medicine has been used for from generation to generation can be used by the community without having to get permission from The Institution of Supervision of Food and Drug Indonesian Government. Traditional medicine must also have the criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. The purpose of this activities is to provide knowledge on how to utilize and skill how to use herbs of traditional African antidiabetes leaf medicine in Keerom Regency. The method of education used is the lecture or extension method of herbal medicine utilization of traditional antidiabetic medicinal plants, how to use and how to cultivate it. The result data of this activities can be concluded that local people in Arsopura Village, Keerom Regency are very enthusiastic to study the utilization of traditional antidiabetes leaf medicinal plants of Africa and how to mix herbs of traditional antidiabetic medicinal plants and how to cultivate them as Medicinal Plants for family (TOGA). The answer of the question post increasingly and extends to various diseases and herbs that can be used to other disease. Suggestions need assistance in mixing herbs traditional antidiabetes medicinal plants and how to cultivate these plants.Keywords: Herbs, antidiabetes, Vernonia amygdalina, diabetes mellitus, Keerom

Native drugs of Vietnam: which traditional and scientific approaches?

Background: An ethnobotanical study was conducted among Oromo people in Goro district, Oromia region, Ethiopia to document ethnomedicinal uses of plants. Methods: Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and field walks were used to collect data on medicinal plants and demography during October 2017- September 2018 from 369 non-traditional and 24 traditional medicine practitioners. Descriptive statistics and quantitative indices viz. Independent t-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), multiple regression analysis, Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Fidelity Level (FL), Preference Ranking (PR) and Direct Matrix Ranking (DMR) were performed to analyze the data. Results: A total of 84 medicinal plants belonging to 45 families were documented. The family Asteraceae was represented by six species. Most of the plants were herbs (30). The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (39.36%) followed by roots (19.18%). Oral route was frequently (62.26%) cited way of remedy application. Gastrointestinal and Dermatological illnesses had the highest ICF value (0.80), whereas the least ICF value was for Parasitic infections (0.47).The highest FL (100%) was recorded for Aloe ruspoliana and Nicotiana tabacum for Wound and Leech repulsion, respectively. Achyranthes aspera was top-ranked plant to treat stomachache. The analysis of DMR revealed Cordia africana as top-ranked multipurpose plant. Gender, age and educational status significantly (p<0.05) affected the traditional medicinal knowledge. Results of multiple linear regression showed that age and educational status predicted traditional medicinal knowledge. Conclusion: Our study explored the profound indigenous knowledge of the Oromo people of the study area. Their traditional knowledge on the medicinal plants must be validated with phytochemical and pharmacological studies and the knowledge needs to be preserved. Keywords: Direct matrix ranking, Fidelity level, Goro district, Informant consensus factor, Preference ranking, Traditional medicine

The use of plants in traditional medicine has been carried out by indigenous people around the forest on the island of Kalimantan. However, knowledge about the use of plants in traditional medicine by the Salako Dayak community who inhabit the buffer zone of the Raya Pasi Nature Reserve, West Kalimantan Province, has never been documented. This study aims to collect scientific information regarding the use of plants in traditional medicine by the Salako Dayak community in West Kalimantan Province. The research was conducted by conducting semi-structured interviews, and continued with a discussion of 18 respondents who were determined by purposive sampling. The data collected includes: the name of the plant, the part used, the disease/efficacy (medical) of each plant, the method of preparation of medicinal plants, and the dosage/dose rules. In addition, the frequency of citations/mentions (%) of each medicinal plant and the Informant Agreement Factor were also calculated. The results showed that the Salako Dayak community used 85 species of plants in traditional medicine. Piperaceae, Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, and Lamiaceae were the dominant plant families reported by respondents as medicinal plants. In general, the Salako Dayak community mostly uses the roots to be used as medicine, with the method of preparation by boiling or soaking. Callicarpa longifolia is the plant with the highest frequency of citations, and is commonly used to treat: internal fever, ulcers, wounds, abdominal pain, and postpartum medicine at a dose of 3 x 1. In addition, this study also obtained the number of taxa used by the Dayak community. Salako is more diverse in several categories of traditional medicine.

Abstract. Susanti Y, Supiandi MI, Julung H, Zubaidah S, Mahanal S. 2023. Lexicon of medicinal plants in traditional medicine in the Dayak Tamambaloh Tribe (West Kalimantan, Indonesia): An ethnolinguistic approach. Biodiversitas 24: 391-398. The Dayak Tamambaloh community in Temau Village, Embaloh Hulu Subdistrict, Kapuas Hulu District, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia, still maintains local wisdom in utilizing plants as basic ingredients for traditional medicine. In the process of traditional medicine, the Tamambaloh Dayak people use the local lexicon. However, local knowledge related to traditional medicine in the Tamambaloh Dayak tribe is only conveyed orally from generation to generation and does not have written scientific documentation. This study aimed to record local traditional medicinal plants, lexicon, phonetics and the function of medicinal plants used by the Dayak Tamambaloh community. This study used the descriptive qualitative method. Research data were obtained through in-depth interviews and documentation. Informants in this study were traditional leaders, village midwives, shamans, and people who often use medicinal plants. Analysis of research data was to describe the spoken language of the medicinal plant lexicon into written language using elan, classifying, describing, analyzing, and interpreting the results of research on the lexicon and the function of medicinal plants in traditional medicine in the Dayak Tamambaloh community. The results obtained 33 medicinal plant lexicons, 33 medicinal plant functions, and 25 medicinal plant species in 24 families. The most widely used families were Arecaceae (2 species), Asteraceae (2 species), Blechnaceae (2 species), Bombacaceae (2 species), Liliaceae (2 species), Myrtaceae (2 species), Piperaceae (2 species), Rubiaceae (2 species), and Solanaceae (2 species). The results of this study become the basis for preserving traditional medicine in remote tribes that still maintain local wisdom.

BackgroundThis paper is based on an ethnobotanical investigation that focused on the traditional medicinal plants used by local Maonan people to treat human diseases in Maonan concentration regions. The Maonan people have relied on traditional medicine since ancient times, especially medicinal plants. The aim of this study is to document medicinal plants used by the Maonans and to report the status of medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge.MethodsEthnobotanical data were collected from June 2012 to September 2014 in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, northern Guangxi, southwest China. In total, 118 knowledgeable informants were interviewed. Following statistically sampling method, eighteen villages from 5 townships were selected to conduct field investigations. Information was collected through the approache of participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, ranking exercises, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory rural appraisals.ResultsA total of 368 medicinal plant species were investigated and documented together with their medicinal uses by the Maonans, most of which were obtained from the wild ecosystems. The plants were used to treat 95 human diseases. Grinding was a widely used method to prepare traditional herbal medicines. There were significant relationships between gender and age, and between gender and informants’ knowledge of medicinal plant use. Deforestation for agricultural purposes was identified as the most destructive factor of medicinal plants, followed by drought and over-harvest.ConclusionsThe species diversity of medicinal plants used by the Maonans in the study area was very rich. Medicinal plants played a significant role in healing various human disorders in the Maonan communities. However, the conflicts between traditional inheriting system and recent socio-economic changes (and other factors) resulted in the reduction or loss of both medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. Thus, conservation efforts and policies, and innovation of inheriting system are necessary for protecting the medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. Awareness is also needed to be raised among local Maonans focusing on sustainable utilization and management of both medicinal plants and traditional knowledge.

BackgroundThe Shui are a small Chinese sociolinguistic group living in Sandu Shui Autonomous County, south of Guizhou Province. The Shui people have accumulated and developed rich traditional medicinal knowledge, which has played a significant role in their healthcare. Traditional ethnic herbal medicines, like Shui ethnomedicine, have become an important resource of rural development in Guizhou Province. However, not much research has been conducted to document the medicinal plants traditionally used by the Shui people. This study’s aims are (1) to record the current use of medicinal plants in Sandu County and associated traditional knowledge, including the medicinal plant species used and the types of diseases treated by local healers and any unique aspects of their preparations; (2) to analyze the most important medicinal plant species using relative frequency of citation (RFC); and (3) to provide useful information and data for possible future development and application of ethnomedicine and promote the conservation and preservation of Shui traditional medicinal knowledge.MethodsField surveys were conducted between July 2015 and August 2022 in Sandu County. A total of 15 local healers as key informants were interviewed. An additional 132 informants from villages and local markets were also interviewed through semistructured interviews and focal group discussions. Local Shui healers were followed during their collection of medicinal plants in the fields and recorded the medicinal plants’ names, uses, and parts used. An ANOVA was used to evaluate the number of medicinal plants recognized by local healers across age-groups and townships, and relative frequencies of citation values were determined for the recorded medicinal plants.ResultsIn this study, data collected from 15 Shui healers and 132 other informants were analyzed. The healers used fresh or dried parts of 505 plant species as medicine to treat a wide range of conditions and diseases. These plants belong to 405 genera from 156 families, with Fabaceae being the highest represented plant family. The Jiuqian township had the highest distribution of per capita healers (pch); only one local healer was in Zhonghe. Of the 15 local healers, only two were younger than 40 years of age. There is a major concern that traditional medicinal knowledge may be lost if there are not sufficient trainees or suitable successors. Among the common medicinal plants, most are herbaceous and the Shui typically use the whole plant in their medicines. There are 85 different recorded diseases treated by Shui medicinal plants, and among them, rheumatism and bone fractures have the largest number of species used. Three medicinal plant species, Isodon amethystoides, Asarum insigne, and Acorus tatarinowii, are the most commonly used ethnomedicines by the Shui people.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that Shui people have extensive knowledge of a diverse range of medicinal plants, many of which had not been systematically recorded before the current study. Further research on the chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of Shui medicinal plants will be useful for developing functional foods or pharmaceutical products, particularly those of Isodon amethystoides, Asarum insigne, and Acorus tatarinowii. Additionally, as a result of rapid economic growth, fewer young people in Shui communities pursue traditional medicinal studies. Only 15 traditional Shui healers remain in the county, and only two of them are below the age of 40 years. Therefore, to conserve Shui’s traditional medicinal knowledge, initiatives and policies are required to regenerate, strengthen, and promote Shui medicinal knowledge.

Bafanji village harbors a plethora of plants used in the treatment of several ailments. Alarmingly, traditional knowledge is quickly declining due to inadequate documentation and limited cross-generational transfer of knowledge. In this study indigenous medicinal plans were documented for their use, management and the threats affecting them. The study was carried out in Bafanji village between August 2015 and March 2016. Semi-structured questionnaires, interviews and field trips were used for data collection. Sample specimens were collected and identified. This study revealed that 6.06% of the population relied solely on medicinal plants for their health care while 15.14% do not use medicinal plants directly and 78.8% rely on both modern and traditional medicine for the treatment of their ailments. 92 plant species belonging to 51 families and 83 genera were documented. Family Asteraceae was the most represented (14.1%). More than one plant species is used to treat various ailments with the highest number of species (19) for malaria. Among the medicinal plant species recorded from the study area, the majority (55.4%) which were mainly herbs (70.7%) were collected from the wild. The leaves were the most commonly used plant part (44.5%). The principal method of remedy preparation was reported to be decoction. Oral administration was the most preferred mode. Knowledge of the use of plants as medicines was found to be confined to traditional healers and older folk. Documenting the eroding indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants and spurring youths to acquire traditional medicinal knowledge is recommended.

This research work documents the traditional management and conservation of indigenous knowledge associated with the use of plant diversity for treatment of human and livestock diseases and medicinal plants found in Dawuro zone, Southern Ethiopia. The information was gathered through semi-structured interview conducted on 91 traditional healers. The data were analyzed using Excel spreadsheet and data matrix procedure for preference ranking. Traditional practices and various cultural and seasonal restrictions of collecting medicinal plants have contributed to the management and conservation of diversified and rich medicinal plants compared to others. Two hundred and sixteen medicinal plants distributed in 69 families were documented in this study. Asteraceae is the most frequently used family accounting for 44.93% and followed by Fabaceae and Lamiaceae covering 39.13% and 26.06%, respectively. Most of the traditional healers of the area collect their medicinal plants, about 169 species (78.24%) from the wild. Traditional healers in the study area predominantly use 91(42.13%) herbs whose leaves account for 89 (41.20%) medicinal purpose. Most of the preparations are obtained by mixing medicinal plants individually with water—190 (87.96%)—and prescribed to be orally administered—135 (62.5%). About 71.76% (155) of the medicinal plants are used to treat humans and most of the plants, about 176 (81.48%) of them, are used to treat only one type of either human or veterinary diseases. The age of healers that exercise traditional medicine (knowledge) ranges between 18 and 91 years and about 50 (54.95%) of them are not educated. Indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants is gradually disappearing due to secrecy, unwillingness of young generation to gain the knowledge, influence of modern education, and awareness factors besides other natural conditions and anthropogenic activities like agricultural expansion, timber production, overharvesting, and overgrazing. The study concluded by giving some suggestions and recommendations for the effective utilization of the medicinal plant species and the associated indigenous knowledge of the Dawuro people of the study area: initiating pharmacological and biological activity testing of most popularly used traditional medicinal plants in the area, establishing botanical gardens and protected areas with community-based conservation, and encouraging the use of home gardens for cultivation of multipurpose plants.

Clinical study was conducted on Significance of Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for Treatment of Rabies Disease at Ambo Towna in west Shoa zone, Oromia regional state at the North East part of Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to assess and document traditional medicinal plants used for curing rabies disease and to assess the traditional knowledge of native healer for curing rabies disease. Case Study was conducted by randomly selecting and interviewing by questionnaire with the help of translators and native traditional docter to gather information on the knowledge of medicinal plants used to diagnoses the rabies. 30 people on average were chosen for statistical analysis of which 50% were male and 50% female. Three species of plants were documented and assessed for the present investigations viz, Phytolacca dodecandra (Endod), Croton macrostachyus (Bisana) and Amaranthes spinosus (Dalile). We were able to show the significant values for Traditional Medicine (Plants) when we compared the cure/ treatment with Allopathic Medicine. Statistical analyses (ANOVA) gave a positive value for Traditional Medicine (F=3.0205-Homogeneous) and Allopathic Medicine (F=4.9692 a non Homogeneous) at F-table value at 5% level with (2, 27) degrees of freedom showing that these are potential medicine for curing Rabies. Based on our clinical investigations we recommend Traditional Medicine from Plants which has greater potency to diagnose can be helpful to common/ Natives who cannot afford to go to Allopathic Medicine.

In Ethiopia, medicinal plants had been used since ancient time and became an important source of health care. Though majority of the people in the study area depend on ethnomedicine to manage different ailments, the indigenous knowledge largely is not documented. As a result, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted with the objective of assessing the role of medicinal plants in traditional medicine. Data was collected by using semi-structured interview and group discussion. Twenty informants were purposefully selected based on indigenous knowledge and gender. Ethnobotanical data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and expressed in tables and flow charts. A total of 25 medicinal plants (22 families) recorded to treat human and livestock ailments. Medicinal plant habit analysis indicates that shrubs occupy the highest proportion (36%), followed by trees and herbs (28% for each) and climbers (8%). The most commonly used plant parts in the study area were leaves and roots. Although medicinal plants play a great role in the society, their sustainability is declining through time in the study area due to the increasing number of users, improper uses of the plants and poor conservation. Therefore, the conservation of these medicinal plants would be important.

BackgroundTraditional medicinal plant species documentation is very crucial in Ethiopia for biodiversity conservation, bioactive chemical extractions and indigenous knowledge retention. Having first observed the inhabitants of Gubalafto District (Northern Ethiopia), the author gathered, recorded, and documented the human traditional medicinal plant species and the associated indigenous knowledge.MethodsThe study was conducted from February 2013 to January 2015 and used descriptive field survey design. Eighty-four informants were selected from seven study kebeles (sub-districts) in the District through purposive, snowball, and random sampling techniques. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews, guided field walks, demonstrations, and focus group discussions with the help of guided questions. Data were organized and analyzed by descriptive statistics with SPSS version 20 and Microsoft Office Excel 2007.ResultsA total of 135 medicinal plant species within 120 genera and 64 families were documented. Among the species, Ocimum lamiifolium and Rhamnus prinoides scored the highest informant citations and fidelity level value, respectively. In the study area, Asteraceae with 8.1% and herbs with 50.4% plant species were the most used sources for their medicinal uses. A total of 65 ailments were identified as being treated by traditional medicinal plants, among which stomachache (abdominal health problems) was frequently reported. Solanum incanum was reported for the treatment of many of the reported diseases. The leaf, fresh parts, and crushed forms of the medicinal plants were the most preferred in remedy preparations. Oral application was the highest reported administration for 110 preparations. A majority of medicinal plant species existed in the wild without any particular conservation effort. Few informants (about 5%) had only brief notes about the traditional medicinal plants. Ninety percent of the respondents have learned indigenous medicinal plants knowledge from their family members and friends secretly. Orthodox Church schools were found the main place for 65% of healer’s indigenous knowledge origin and experiences. Elders, aged between 40 and 84 years, gave detailed descriptions about traditional medicinal plants.ConclusionsTraditional medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge are the main systems to maintain human health in Gubalafto District. But minimal conservation measures were recorded in the community. Thus, in-situ and ex-situ conservation practices and sustainable utilization are required in the District.