Browsing by Author "Hannington, Oryem-Origa"

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    Documentation and consensus of indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants used by the local communities of western Uganda
    (Scholars Research Library, 2014-04) Maud, Kamatenesi Mugisha; Hannington, Oryem-Origa; Savina, Asiimwe; Agnes, Namutebi; Anna-Karin, Borg-Karlsson
    An ethnobotanical study was conducted to document the uses of medicinal plants among the local communities of western Uganda. The aim of the study was to identify and document plant species used for treatment of various ailments in the study areas, identify the commonly used plants, parts used, preparation and administration of herbal drugs. To find out the level of consensus or agreement between informants regarding the uses of plants for particular disease categories. Information on the plants was gathered between December 2010 and May 2011 from 124 informants using semi-structured interviews and discussions. For analysis of general use of plants, factor informant consensus (Fic) was used. The reported plants were collected and identified. The study revealed 231 plant species belonging to 72 families and 164 genera. These plants were used to treat various diseases and ailments grouped under 14 ailment categories, with the highest number of species (127) being used for gastrointestinal disorders followed by reproductive health disorders (75). The factor informant consensus highlighted low agreement in the use of plants. The highest Fic (0.61) was scored for the digestive problems, such as intestinal worms, stomachache and constipation. Aloe vera was used for malaria with the highest frequency of mention (26 mentions). Herbs (55%) were the main source of medicine followed by shrubs (18%). Leaves (65%) and roots (19%) were the main plant parts used in remedy preparation while decoction was the major form of preparation. Family Asteraceae accounted for 16% of the total species recorded. The majority of plants (53%) were harvested from wild habitats. The most important species according to their fidelity are Senna occidentalis (L.) Link for deworming, Aloe vera L. for malaria, Maytenus senegalensis (Lam) Exell for syphilis and Senecio hadiensis Forssk for miscarriages.The low consensus means the majority of informants do not agree or exchange information on the use of plant species and this may require bioactivity screening to justify the use for the reported ailments. The documented information regarding therapeutic uses provides basic data for further studies focused on pharmacological studies and conservation of the most important species.
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    Ethno-pharmacological screening of Vernonia amygdalina and Cleome gynandra traditionally used in Childbirth in Western Uganda
    (NAPRECA Symposium Book of Proceedings, Antananarivo, Madagascar, 2013) Maud, Kamatenesi Mugisha; Hannington, Oryem-Origa; Olwa, Odyek; Dominic W, Makawiti
    Over 80% of pregnant women in Western Uganda deliver at home with the assistance of mainly traditional birth attendants who use herbal remedies to complete the processes of child bearing in the rural communities. In Uganda, complications resulting from reproductive health related conditions such as maternal mortality and morbidity (20.4%) account for number one problem among the disease burden followed by malaria (15.4%). The national maternal mortality average is 506/100,000 and that has remained stable for over the last ten years. Despite the wide usage of herbal remedies in childbirth, this indigenous knowledge is not well documented and the claims not properly validated through scientific scrutiny under conditions mimicking the indigenous methods of use. This paper will discuss the crude aqueous herbal extracts of Vernonia amygdalina Del. and Cleome gynandra L. that were screened for their bioactivities on the motility of the rat uterus and rabbit jejunum. The ethnopharmacological screening results showed that the aqueous herbal extracts of V. amygdalina and C. gynandra increased rat uterine motility. In addition, aqueous extracts from V. amygdalina caused rabbit jejunum contraction. The aqueous plant extracts of V. amygdalina and C. gynandra that increased the rat uterine contraction may be oxytocic. Since the usage of herbal medicines offers a holistic approach that is lacking in western medicine, integration and safety aspects of herbal medicine development is a concern to the developing countries and globally.
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    Medicinal plants used to induce labour during childbirth in western Uganda
    (Elsevier, 2006-06-07) Maud, Kamatenesi-Mugisha; Hannington, Oryem-Origa
    Traditional medicine usage in rural Ugandan population for day-to-day health care needs is close to 90%. Women and children form the bulk of the people reliant on herbal medicine. This study was undertaken to document how ethnomedical folklore aids childbirth in rural western Uganda by conducting field surveys, discussions and interviews with the resource users (mothers) and health providers (traditional birth attendants). Health surveys revealed that over 80% of childbirths are conducted at home by using herbal remedies in Bushenyi district. Seventy-five plants have been recorded for usage in inducing labour and some of these plants may be oxytocic. The dilemma lies in the toxicity levels and the unspecified dosages that may threaten the life of the unborn baby and the mother. The high population growth rate, high total fertility rate coupled with high maternal mortality and morbidity in Uganda calls for rethinking in gendered health provision policies and programmes for which herbal medicine integration in health care systems seems viable. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved