An ethnomedicinal survey of plants used to treat malaria in the Central Region of Ghana

Abstract

Herbal medicines form a major component of traditional medicine in Africa because they are perceived to be efficacious and safe. The study aimed at investigating anti-malarial plants used by the indigenous people in the Central Region of Ghana. The study was conducted in three districts: Cape Coast (CC), Assin and Asikuma Odoben-Brakwa (AOB). Ethnomedicinal data on antimalarial plants was collected using a convenient sampling technique consisting of field observation, collection of vouchers and semi-structured interviews of herbalists/herbal practitioners and general public. Respondents interviewed constituted Herbal practitioners/Vendors (8%), Traditional birth attendants (TBAs, 6%), Chiefs/Opinion leaders (2%), and general public (84%). The female respondents formed 54% and 46% were males. Eighty-nine plant species belonging to 41 families were recorded as useful in treating malaria. Leaves were the commonest plant part used for herbal preparation (49.5%), followed by Stem bark (21.2%), roots (14.1%), fruits (7.2%), seeds and whole (3.0% each) and flowers (2.0%). Thirty-two plant species belonging to 23 families were found to be common in all study areas. Herbal medicine patronage for malaria treatment in Central Region of Ghana is high with common species occurring in all study areas