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Journal of Medicinal Plants
Research Vol. 5(31), pp.
6787–6797,
23 December, 2011
ISSN 1996-0875 ©2011 Academic
Journals
DOI: 10.5897/JMPR11.1135
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Full Length
Research Paper |
Putative medicinal properties of plants from the Kavango
region, Namibia
Kazhila C. Chinsembu*, Marius Hedimbi and Wellencia C.
Mukaru
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science,
University of Namibia, P/Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
kchinsembu@unam.na
or
kchinsembu2008@yahoo.co.uk. Tel: +264-61-2063426. Fax:
+264-61-2064577.
Abbreviations: ABS,
Access and benefit sharing; THMPD, traditional herbal
medicinal products directive; IK, indigenous
knowledge; IP, intellectual property; LDC,
livestock development centre; HIV/ AIDS,
human immunodeficiency virus; acquired immune deficiency
syndrome.
Accepted 6 October, 2011
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Abstract |
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Namibia has over 4,334 different plant taxa. Although, some of
these plants may potentially be used as herbal medicines, there
is limited knowledge about their efficacy and safety. This is
partly due to the fact that screening of plants for
pharmacological activity and characterization of their active
chemical compounds is expensive. In order to circumscribe this
problem, this paper presents data on the putative medicinal
properties of plants surveyed in the Kavango region, Namibia.
The data were mined from electronic search engines. The search
results showed that 48 plant species from 22 families were known
to treat several diseases including malaria, diarrhea, sexually
transmitted infections and tuberculosis. Data from this study
will be used by community forestry officers to educate the local
people about the possibility of using indigenous plants for
medicinal purposes.
Key words:
Namibia, medicinal plants, reverse bioprospecting, green
bio-economy. |
