Some Kenyan Medicinal Plants Used in Treating Joint Diseases: Ethnobotany, Seed Characteristics, Germination Physiology And The Potentials for Germinants to Establish
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Date
1998-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This thesis presents a documentation of indigenous knowledge on plants used in treating joint
diseases followed by investigation on some seed characteristics, germination physiology and
potentials for germinants to establish of three of the plant species.
In a participatory approach, indigenous knowledge was documented from the local people
living in the area under the mandate of Elang'ata Wuas Ecosystem Management Program,
(EWEMP), Kajiado District, Kenya. Semi-structured interviews and guided field walks were
used in collecting the information. The study on the seed characteristics and germination
physiology focused on three plant species namely: Sllychnos henningsii Gilg., J\lyrsine
africana L. and Ziziphus mucronala Willd. ssp mllcronala. One hundred seeds were taken
randomly and their size (length and width) and weight measured. The seeds external
characteristics including the shape, color, seed-coat features were noted. The seeds were also
incubated in distilled water and the embryo examined microscopically twenty-four hours and
ten days after sowing. For germination physiology studies, different concentrations (10.3_10'7
M) of three plant growth regulators namely Gibberellic-3-acid (GA)), ocNaphthleneaceatic
acid (NAA) and Benzyl-aminopurine (BAP) were investigated for their influence on the seed
germination.
Investigations on the potentials for germinants to establish were carried out on SllJlchnos
henningsii Gilg and lvJyrsine a/ricana L. germinants. One hundred Sllychnos henningsii
germinants (all from distilled water treatment) and one hundred and twenty lvJyrsine a/ricana
germinants (thirty each from GA) 10-4, NAA 10'7, BAP 10,6 M and distilled water) treatments
were investigated for their potential to establish over a period of eight weeks.
The findings from this study revealed that twenty-one plant species, all of which are harvested
from the wild, are used in treating joint diseases. The roots are the parts mostly used in
treatment of joint diseases followed by the stem barks. Use of plant species in combination
with others (concoctions) was widely reported. Traditional conservation practices applicable
to trees and shrubs were reported. Two plant species namely: Rliellia palliia Jacq. and
Heliolropillm rGrijlorum Stocks ssp hereroense (Shinz.) Verdc.were reported not to be as
readily available as they were in the past.
The seeds of Sllychnos henningsii and iVJyrsine a/ricana showed no conspicuous changes
(size and appearance) after soaking in water for twenty-four hours or ten days. Almost all the
seeds of Ziziphus mucronata Willd. ssp /Ilucronata were dead. On the influence of plant
growth regulators on seed germination, GA3 and NAA showed significant differences with the
control in SlIychnos henningsii. Higher concentrations of NAA (NAAIO-3 and 10'4 M)
delayed germination for twenty-one and seventeen days respectively. In iVJyrsine africana, all
the treatments showed significant differences with the control. Germination was poor (less
than 20%) in all the treatments in Ziziphus /Ill/cronata ssp mucronata seeds. Ninety-nine
percent of Sllychnos henningsii germinants survived for eight weeks. In JvJyrsine a/I'icana,
GA3 10'4 M treated germinants showed the highest mortality (31 %).
iv :,
From the results of this study, it could be concluded that (i) treatment of joint diseases using
medicinal plants mostly utilizes the roots and the stem-barks, parts if excessively removed
could lead to the death of the plant. (ii) No efforts have specifically targeted the propagation
of the medicinal plants and hence there is need to in-corporate medicinal plants in plant
propagation programs. (iii) Myrsine africana seeds seemed to be under germination inhibition
and hence would require pre-treatment before sowing. FUliher studies to identify the
appropriate pre-treatment techniques are recommended.