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REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES ON PLANTS USED IN THE TRADITIONAL TREATMENT OF HUMAN GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS IN ETHIOPIA Zewdie Kassa, Zemede Asfaw and Sebsebe Demissew Addis Ababa University, Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2

PRESENTER ZEWDIE KASSA March 20-21, 2015 Bahir Dar University Bahir Dar, Ethiopia 3

OUTLINES  INTRODUCTION  HUMAN GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES  SUMMARY AND SYNTHESIS OF HERBS USED TO TREAT HGIP  TAXONOMIC DIVERSITY OF HERBS FOR HGIP  SIMILRARITY INDICES  GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF HERBS FOR HGIP  GENERA AND FAMILIES OF PLANTS FOR HGIP  CATEGORIES OF PLANT PARTS USED FOR HGIP  CATEGORIES OF HGI PROBLEMS TREATED  CONCLUSIONS  RECOMMENDATIONS  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 4

INTRODUCTION  Pathology  a bridging discipline involving both basic science and clinical practices  the study of the structural and functional changes in cells, tissues and organs thereby underlying diseases(Robins, 2010). 5

Introduction cont’d Protozoan and helminthes are among the classes of human endo- parasites (Haque, 2007). Traditional medicine is a kind of therapeutic method that had been handed down by the tradition of a community or ethnic group (Sikdar and Dutta, 2008). 6

Objective To present compiled review and synthesis on ethnobotanical studies of plants used in the traditional treatment of human gastrointestinal problems in Ethiopia with emphasis on gastrointestinal parasites 7

Human gastrointestinal parasites (HGIP) parasites populating the gastrointestinal tract in humans (Haque, 2007)  Protozoan : Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lambilia  Helminthes : round worms or nematodes Ascaris hookworms strongyloides Flatworms or cestodes 8

Herbal Remedies for HGIP traditional systems of medicine have become a topic of global importance (WHO, 1999) Although modern medicine may be available, herbal medicines have often maintained popularity for historical and cultural reasons (WHO, 2009) 9

Herbal Remedies Contin’d… about 80% of the Ethiopian population depend on traditional medicine for their primary healthcare practices. more than 95% of traditional medicinal preparations in Ethiopia are from plant origins (Dawit Abebe et al., 2003). 10

Plants used for treating HGIP Ethiopia in the indigenous health delivery system of Ethiopia, numerous plant species are used to treat diseases of infectious origins (Aberra Geyid et al., 2005). a limited access to modern healthcare facilities could be considered as the main factors for the contribution of traditional practices (Balcha Abera, 2014). 11

Plants Used… cont’d Majority of Ethiopians relay on traditional medicine as their primary form of healthcare yet they are in danger of losing their knowledge and the plants they have used as medicines for millennia (Avigdor et al., 2014). 12

Plants Used… cont’d ethnobotanical studies are imperative and concomitant sustainable programs. support the sustainability of herbal medicine traditions. may be considered as a way to collect and disseminate information thereby supporting communities in their efforts to maintain their heritage (Avigdor et al., 2014). 13

Summary and synthesis of plants used in treating gastrointestinal parasites 173 plant species 147 genera 69 families are identified  As plants for treating gastrointestinal diseases Tapeworm (Taeniasis) dysentery amoebiasis ascariasis hookworm giardiasis abdominal helminthes ( stomachache, abdominal parasites, diarrhea and constipation) 14 Intestinal parasites and diseases Medicinal plants

TAXONOMIC & USE DIVERSITY OF PLANTS FOR HGIP  From analytical tables:  Species (173)  genera (147)  Families (69) Hence, the frequency distributions for the taxonomic diversities in the respective hierarchies are 173, 147 and 69 (Fig1)Fig1 15

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Conti’d…  top six plant families identified as treating gastrointestinal parasites Asteraceae (20.29%) Euphorbiaceae (14.49%) Fabaceae (14.49%) Lamiaceae (14.49%) Cucurbitacea (13.04%) Solanaceae (13.04%).  % families indicate  potenitial familes to undertake phytochemical analysis to come across the most effective antiparasitic drugs. 17

Similarity Indices/ Measurement of similarity and dissimilarity/  Sorensen’s coefficient of similarity 14 general floras (Ada’a Berga, Emba Alajie, Cheliya, Dabark, Farta, Ghimbi, Gozamn, Jeldu, Konta, Libo Kemkem, Mecha, Seru, Wendo Genet, Wonago) were identified in the review and compared (Fig2)Fig2 18

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Geographical distribution of medicinal plants for treating GIP The majority of the species were reported from the Northern and the Western floritic regions there is limited amount of available information in the rest of the country. The highest number of species reported were from Eastern Gojjam, Gozamn (about 34 species) and the least number of species reported were from Western Shewa, Jeldu (only 6 species). This wide range of difference in species composition could be explained by a number of factors that need further investigation(Fig2) (Fig3, Fig3(2))Fig2Fig3Fig3(2) 20

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Genera and Families of medicinal plants used to treat GIP  Genera with the highest percentages of use Euphorbia (3.4%) Solanum (2.72%) Cucumis (2.04%) Vernonia (2.04%)  top six most frequent families are Asteraceae(20.29%) Euphorbiaceae(14.49%) Fabaceae(14.49%) Lamiaceae(14.49%) Cucurbitaceae(13.04%) Solanaceae (13.04%) (Fig4, Fig5).Fig4Fig5 23

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Categories of plant parts used/number of use reports for a particular aliment  The most frequently used plant parts are  leaves (27.32%)  roots (24.55%)  seeds (14.06%)  bark (12.96%)  the least frequently used plant parts are spines, tuber and bulbs (Table3, Fig6).Table3 Fig6  highest percentages of use reports imply that frequently used plant parts are potenitial targets for researchers undertaking phytochemical analysis 26

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Categories of gastrointestinal problems treated by traditional herbal remedies  Top four frequently reported gastrointestinal problems are  intestinal and stomach problems (34.59%)  taeniasis (23.27%)  ascariasis (15.41%)  abdominal problems and diarrhea (11.64%) (Table4, Fig7).Table4Fig7 28

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Cont’d…  The highest number of medicinal plant species per a given gastrointestinal problem is seen for intestinal and stomach problems (85)(Table5)Table5  Highest Percentages  intestinal and stomach problems (48.86%)  taeniasis/tapeworm (32.76%)  ascariasis (21.26%)  abdominal problems and diarrhea (17.82%) as indicated in (Fig8)Fig8 30

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Conclusions Gastrointestinal problems are caused by either parasites or non parasitic origins. Gastrointestinal problems caused by parasites can be protozoan (single celled organisms) parasitic worms (round worms and flat worms). 32

Conclusion cont’d… Traditionally, people classify gastrointestinal problems based on the signs and symptoms they may observe on the patient thereby using herbal remedies as a cure for the diseases by trial and error. A number of ethnobotanical studies on medicinal plants were carried out in different regions of Ethiopia over the past few years to document the vast array of knowledge hosted in the local communities along with the potenicial medicinal plant species used by traditional healers to cure diseases. 33

Conclusions cont’d… majority of such studies are too general and fragmented. Such fragment of information is not easily available to professional researchers who are eager in screening, verifying and approval of potentially significant plant species of interest to treat specific health problems. The above scenario calls for the need for reviewing and compiling the fragmented pieces of information making easily available to the readers as well as professional researchers. 34

Recommendations Local indigenous knowledge should be an integral part of modern scientific findings. There are significant numbers and varieties of plant species for treating gastrointestinal problems in Ethiopia the phytochemical efficacy thes plants should be verified through careful screening and analysis of species under question against specific pathogen. 35

Recommendations cont’d… Reasons for the variations in the medicinal plant knowledge and utilization rate among differen community members in different floral regions as well as medicinal plant distribution and availability should be explained through detailed and careful pyhochemical analysis coupled to environmental (biological, physical and chemical) parameter to verify the consistency in effectiveness of the medicinal plant 36

SUMMARY POINTS  Review and analysis  Ethnobotanical studies  Traditional treatment  Human gastrointestinal problems  Gastrointestinal parasites  Protozoan  Helminthes  Diarrhea 37

SUMMARY POINTS (Cot’d)  173 species => 147 genera => 69 families  Most frequent families  Asteraceae = 20.29%  Euphorbiaceae = 14.49%  Fabaceae = 14.49%  Cucurbitaceae =13.04%  Solanaceae = 13.04%  Most frequently used genera  Euphorbia = 3.4%  Solanum = 2.72%  Cucumis = 2.04 %  Vernonia = 2.04% 38 TARGET FAMILIESTARGET FAMILIES TARGET GENERATARGET GENERA

SUMMARY POINTS (Cot’d)  Most frequently used plant parts  Leaves = 27.32%  Roots = 24.55%  Seeds = 14.06%  Bark = 12.96% == > Target plant parts == > Harvesting impacts 39

Summary pts: REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLES 40

REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLES (Cont’d) 41

REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLES (Cont’d) 42

EXAMPLES (Cont’d) 43

Examples (Cont’d) 44

EXAMPLES (Cont’d) 45

EXAMPLES (Cont’d) 46

(Cont’d) 47

ACKNOWLEGMENTS  Department of plant biology and biodiversity management  Kennedy library workers (AAU)  United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) library 48

49 MEDICINAL PLANTSMEDICINAL PLANTS PARASITICWORMSPARASITICWORMS