An Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used by the Maasai People of Many Ara- Arusha, Tanzania
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2001-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
An ethnobotanical study was carried out to document infonnation on the use of medicinal
plants by the Maasai people living at the vicinity of Lake Manyara National Park', Monduli
District in Arusha, Tanzania. Six villages or study sites were chosen randomly: Mto wa Mhu,
Moyamayoka, Losirwa, Silale, Selela and Ngo'goro. It was assumed that indigenous
knowledge related to biodiversity conservation and use of medicinal plants of this cultural
group of people was getting lost or not well documented.
The main method of study was based on semi-structured interviews and discussion with
selected infonnants (Maasai elders and healers). A vegetation survey was conducted to
investigate the habitat status of the reported medicinal plants between the protected area inside
Lake Manyara National Park and outside the park for conservation and monitoring purposes.
A total of 54 plant species belonging to 33 families and 44 genera were cited as being used by
the Maasai of Manyara for their medicinal value. Of these medicinal plants, 49 plant species
or 90% were trees and shrubs. Very few grasses and climbers are used. The result from
Kruskall-Wallis and Friedman's test shows that there is high significant difference (**P<
0.0001, KW=63.036 and Fr=52.746) between trees and herbs/grasses for the medicinal plants
used by the Maasai. Further analysis shows that plant species belonging to the families
FABACEAE and EUPHORBIACEAE are the most used in Maasai remedial systems. Family
Fabaceae account for 22% of the total medicinal plant species and Euphorbiaceae contributes
13% of the total medicinal cited. Out of these 54 plant species, 25 species are used for
h'eatment of Inunan aihnents and 29 species are used for treahnent of animal diseases.
Adansonia digi/a/a, Albizia an/heIll1in/ica and Warburgia ugandensis are used for the
treahnent of both humans' and veterinary diseases.
Barks and roots form the major component of plant parts collected accounting for 61 % of the
recorded medicinal plants. Most of the remedies are prepared in the fonn of decoction from
single plant or as concoctions involving more than one plant. Seventy six percent of the reported medicinal plants are taken orally. Some additives such as meat and bone soup are
added to improve palatability.
With the exception of Azadirachta indica (mwarobaini), all other medicinal plants (about
98%) are harvested from the wild, which may indicate that Maasai have little practice of
bringing medicinal plants under cultivation. Twenty seven percent of reported medicinal
plants that were used to be forest-inhabited species are currently reported to have been rarely
enco\lIltered in the area. Lel/cas martinicensis, Allium ampe/oprasllm and Pappea capensis are
among the threatened species in the area. Seventy one percent of the recorded medicinal plants
that are mostly trees and shmbs are commonly or occasionally enco\lIltered.
Habitat degradation and intense deforestation have been the leading cause for depletion of
medicinal plants. From tile vegetation data it is confirmed that Lake Manyara National Park
(LMNP) is very rich in terms of medicinal plants especially those derived from Fabaceae.
11l\1s, a greater emphasis should be given to conserve the park not only for its fauna as it is tile
case now but also its flora. Maasai are very rich in terms of the ethnoveterinary knowledge;
this calls for a further study of their remedial system to taste for phannaceutical efficacy of
their medicines.
Description
Keywords
Ethnobotanical