Diversity of plants with pesticidal and medicinal properties in southern Sierra Leone

Abstract

Ethnobotanical research was conducted in southern Sierra Leone on a sample of 75 respondents to identify plant species with pesticidal and medicinal properties. The data were analysed by a factor analysis of correspondence. Plants with medicinal properties were divided into 20 families, while those with pesticidal properties were divided into seven families. For medicinal plants, the families of Euphorbiaceae (5), Fabaceae (3), Rubiaceae (3) and Malvaceae (3) were mostly used while the families of Apocynaceae, Araceae, Bignoniaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Convolvulaceae, Connaraceae, Cucurbitaceae, Dilleniaceae, Hypericaceae, Labiatae, Moringaceae, Nymphaeaceae, Pandaceae, Passifloraceae, Selaginellaceae and Zingiberaceae were the least used. Malaria, asthma, tetanus, measles, dysentery, sores/wounds, toothache, chronic bed wetting, hypertension, piles, high fever in infants, miscarriage in women, makroo, weak bones, rash on babies bodies, kwashiorkor, labour pain in pregnant women, loss of appetite and burns/scars in case of fire accidents were some of the conditions reported to be cured using medicinal plants. For pesticidal plants, the family Solanaceae was the most used while the families Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Passifloraceae and Selaginellaceae were the least used. Pests mentioned as controlled by plants include snakes, rodents, fish, poultry ticks and lice, birds, whiteflies, thrips, grasshoppers, storage weevils, beetles, nematodes and crabs. Leaves, fruits, bark and stems were all commonly used. The most used methods include water extract, planting around stores/dwelling homes or crop fields as a repellant for snake control and use of liquid oozing out of cut stem. A nationwide survey is necessary to update the information collected in this study.