An Ethnobotanical, Antioxidant And Anti-Inflammatory Study Of Medicinal Plants Used In Kakamega County, Western Kenya
Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Background \nFor years, medicinal plants have been used worldwide for the treatment of various diseases. \nGenerally, they are considered safer, easily available and more cost effective compared to \nconventional medicine. To date, medicinal plants still remain a promising source of natural \nantioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents to address the increasing burden of diseases related to \noxidative damage and inflammation. \nObjective \nThe aim of the present work was to screen medicinal plants commonly used in Kakamega \ncounty, western Kenya for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. \nMethodology \nAn ethnobotanical survey was undertaken to establish medicinal plants used to treat various \nailments in Kakamega County. Direct interviews were carried out using structured \nquestionnaires. Plant specimens were collected, identified and voucher specimens deposited at \nthe herbarium at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi. The plants were air \ndried at room temperature and ground into powder using a hammer mill(Muharatta mechanical \ngrinder). Extraction was carried out using methanol. Antioxidant activity was then screened \nusing 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay while carrageenan induced rat paw edema \nassay was used to screen for anti-inflammatory activity of the selected medicinal plants. \nResults \nA total of 94 plant species from 41 families were reported to be used as medicinal plants in \nKakamega County by 26 respondents. Most of the plants reported were from the Asteraceae \n(13.8 %) and Fabaceae (11.7 %) families. Majority of the plants were prepared by boiling or as \npoultices.24 plant species were for the first time reported to be used in the area and had not been \nxiv \npreviously reported in similar studies within and around the area. Common ailments treated were \nmalaria, stomach aches, skin diseases, joint aches, and sexually transmitted infections. Some of \nthe herbal remedies were used alongside conventional medicines for the treatment of the various \nchronic ailments such as HIV/AIDS. \nSeven plants were selected for screening of antioxidant activity based on their ethno medicinal \nuse and an extensive literature review. The methanolic leaf extracts of Rhus vulgaris and \nPhyllanthus fischeri displayed relatively high antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 163.63 \nμg/ml and 182.15μg/ml, respectively. The methanolic leaf extracts of Senna didymobotrya, \nJusticia betonica,Warburgia ugandensis, Kalanchoe densiflora and Solanum dasyphylum had \nweak antioxidant activity with IC50 ranging from 1029 μg/ml to 4051μg/ml . \nThe methanolic leaf extracts of Rhus vulgaris and Phyllanthus fischeri were screened for their \nanti-inflammatory activity using indomethacin as a standard. For indomethacin and Rhus \nvulgaris extract, there was a statistically significant difference in the paw size when compared to \nthe vehicle at all the different time points while Phyllanthus fischeri displayed mild activity. \nConclusion and recommendations \nMedicinal plants are widely used in Kakamega County to treat various ailments. The results of \nthis study support the ethnomedicinal uses of Rhus vulgaris and Phyllanthus fischeri. These two \nplants are potential sources of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. \nIt is recommended that the aqueous extracts of the plants should be tested for antioxidant and \nanti-inflammatory activities especially given that traditional use entails use of aqueous extracts. \nPhytochemical studies should be undertaken to isolate compounds responsible for the antioxidant \nand anti-inflammatory activities.
Author: Elizabeth Odongo
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2590160697