Utilization pattern and indigenous knowledge of wild medicinal plants among three ethnic groups in Makawanpur district, Central Nepal.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Nepal, wild plant resources play an important role in local communities' health care. However, this role and its patterns are poorly studied in many regions of the country. This study aimed at documenting the indigenous knowledge on the use patterns of medicinal plants of three ethnic groups from Makawanpur district, Central Nepal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethnobotanical information was collected through interviews with 165 respondents from the Bankaria, Newah and Tamang ethnic groups across five locations of different altitude levels. Botanical voucher samples were collected for scientific identification. Informant consensus factor (ICF) and relative frequency of citation (RFC) were calculated and relationships between knowledge on medicinal plants and location, ethnic group, gender and age of the respondents were analysed. RESULTS: Altogether, 189 plant species were reported by the respondents. Medicinal plants were mostly collected from forest (130 spp.) and fallow land (49 spp.). Only few species such as Acorus calamus L., Cheilocostus speciosus (J. Koenig) Sm. and Mentha spicata L. were cultivated in homegardens. ICF values highlighted that common diseases treated were disorders of the digestive system, the skin and the respiratory system. Highest RFC values were found for Urtica dioica L., Terminalia chebula Retz. and Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Fleming) Karsten. Gender of the respondent had no influence on medicinal plant knowledge while a higher knowledge was detected in rural than urban locations and in those located in the lowlands. Respondents from the Newah ethnic group had significantly lower knowledge on medicinal plants than those from the Bankaria and Tamang ethnic groups. Age of respondents was significantly positively correlated with the reported use number of medicinal plants (r = 0.450; p < 0.001), species number (r = 0.468, p < 0.001) and number of illnesses treated (r = 0.468, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge and use patterns of medicinal plant species were related to the location as well as to the ethnic group and age of the respondents. This shows that it is important to cover a wide range of respondents in such a study to cover the different socio-cultural backgrounds and age classes. The presented study can help to identify those medicinal plant species with the highest importance and the highest utilization potential by integrating ethno-botanical information from the different ethnic groups and age classes. The most important medicinal plant species should be considered for pharmacological testing and for domestication.

The Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) in Southern Kenya-A Study on Status, Distribution, Use and Importance in Taita-Taveta County.

Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is a multipurpose, drought resistant, wild fruit tree, endemic to arid and semi-arid lands of Sub-Saharan Africa. Baobab populations have been showing a lack of regeneration, and therefore causes concern for the species survival. This study investigated the state, distribution and use of baobabs in an under-researched population in Kenya, to identify the potential for further use and development of baobab resources. A baobab population was chosen in Taita-Taveta County, covering a sample area of 2015 km2. A systematic stratified transect survey was done to map baobab distribution using 49 transects (0.5 × 3 km each). The diameter at breast height and other indicators were measured on all baobabs in the transects to assess population status and health. A household survey (n = 46) and focus group discussions (n = 12) were done following the transect survey to gain an idea on the uses and distribution of baobab. In total, 432 baobab trees were measured and recorded in the research area of 2015 km2. The baobabs grew in two clusters (i.e., areas with a baobab density of ≥0.08 baobabs/ha). Both clusters showed rejuvenating populations. The main factors identified by the respondents, positively and negatively influencing baobab distribution were environmental factors, wildlife, human impact and commercial value. The study area shows a great potential for baobab to become an important part of the diet, due to its current use as an emergency food during food scarce times, and the relatively healthy and stable rejuvenating populations.

Genetic diversity and structure of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) in southeastern Kenya.

Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is an iconic tree of African savannahs. Its multipurpose character and nutritional composition of fruits and leaves offer high economic and social potential for local communities. There is an urgent need to characterize the genetic diversity of the Kenyan baobab populations in order to facilitate further conservation and domestication programmes. This study aims at documenting the genetic diversity and structure of baobab populations in southeastern Kenya. Leaf or bark samples were collected from 189 baobab trees in seven populations distributed in two geographical groups, i.e. four inland and three coastal populations. Nine microsatellite loci were used to assess genetic diversity. Overall, genetic diversity of the species was high and similarly distributed over the populations. Bayesian clustering and principal coordinate analysis congruently divided the populations into two distinct clusters, suggesting significant differences between inland and coastal populations. The genetic differentiation between coastal and inland populations suggests a limited possibility of gene flow between these populations. Further conservation and domestications studies should take into consideration thegeographical origin of trees and more attention should be paid to morphological characterization of fruits and leaves of the coastal and inland populations to understand the causes and the impact of the differentiation.

The African baobab (Adansonia digitata, Malvaceae): genetic resources in neglected populations of the Nuba Mountains, Sudan.

UNLABELLED: • PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Adansonia digitata L. is one of the most important indigenous fruit trees of mainland Africa. Despite its significance for subsistence and income generation of local communities, little is known about the genetic and morphological variability of East African populations of A. digitata, including those of Sudan. The aim of the current study, therefore, was to analyze genetic and morphological variability of different baobab populations in Kordofan, Sudan and to estimate the effect of human intervention on genetic differentiation and diversity.• METHODS: A total of 306 trees were randomly sampled from seven spatially separated locations in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan, to cover a wide range of differing environmental gradients and management regimes ('homesteads' and 'wild'). Genetic analyses were conducted using nine microsatellite markers. Because of the tetraploid nature of A. digitata, different approaches were applied to estimate patterns of genetic diversity. Investigations were completed by measurements of dendrometric and fruit morphological characters.• KEY RESULTS: Genetic diversity was balanced and did not differ between locations or management regimes, although tendencies of higher diversity in 'homesteads' were observed. A Bayesian cluster approach detected two distinct gene pools in the sample set, mainly caused by one highly diverse population close to a main road. The variability of tree characters and fruit morphometries was high, and significantly different between locations.• CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated a rather positive effect with human intervention. The observed populations provide a promising gene pool and likely comprise ecotypes well-adapted to environmental conditions at the northern distribution range of the species, which should be considered in conservation and management programs.

Nutrient composition of selected indigenous fruits from sub-Saharan Africa.

Indigenous fruits constitute an important part of human diets in many sub-Saharan African countries, particularly in rural areas and during droughts. In order to promote and expand the utilisation of these fruits, knowledge on their nutritional composition is essential. This review presents the results of a literature research of the nutritional composition of ten selected indigenous fruits from sub-Saharan Africa. Species were selected based on their current importance as well as their future potential for nutrition, processing and cash income generation. Compositional data were compiled and mean values of components per species were calculated. Most papers were compiled for Adansonia digitata (26) and Dacryodes edulis (16), followed by Tamarindus indica (ten), Balanites aegyptiaca (nine), Sclerocarya birrea (nine), Ziziphus mauritiana (nine), Vitex doniana (seven) and Irvingia gabonensis (five), and least for Uapaca kirkiana (three) and Syzygium guineense (three). Fruits were found to be mainly analysed for macronutrients and minerals. Vitamins, apart from vitamin C, were rarely reported. Substantial compositional differences were found among as well as within the different fruit species. The results of this study emphasise the need to generate more high-quality data on a wider spectrum of components of the selected indigenous fruits in sub-Saharan Africa.