Traditional medicinal plants in two urban areas in Kenya (Thika and Nairobi) : Diversity of traded species and conservation concerns

Njoroge, Grace

Traditional medicinal plants in two urban areas in Kenya (Thika and Nairobi) : Diversity of traded species and conservation concerns

Files

Ethnobotany 2012 329-338.pdf (369.69 KB)

Date

2012

Authors

Njoroge, Grace

Publisher

Botany Department, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Abstract

In Kenya there is a paucity of data on diversity, level of demand and conservation concerns of commercialized traditional medicinal plant species. A market study was undertaken in two urban areas of Central Kenya to identify species considered to be particularly important in trade as well as those thought to be scarce. The most commonly traded species include: Aloe secundiflora Engl, Urtica massaica Mildbr., Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkm, Melia volkensii Gürke and Strychnos henningsii Gilg. Aloe secundiflora, P. africana and Strychnos henningsii were found to be species in the markets but in short supply. The supply chain in this area also includes plant species already known to be rare such as Carissa edulis (Forssk.) Vahl and Warburgia ugandensis Sprague. Most of the suppliers are rural herbalists (who harvest from the wild), while only a small proportion of the raw materials come from domesticated species. Key challenges facing the herbal industry in the region were identified and presented.

Keywords

Hawaiians--Ethnobotany--Periodicals., Ethnobotany--Hawaii--Periodicals., Plants, Medicinal--Periodicals., Ethnobotany--Periodicals.

Citation

Njoroge G. 2012. Traditional medicinal plants in two urban areas in Kenya (Thika and Nairobi): Diversity of traded species and conservation concerns. Ethnobotany Research & Applications 10: 329-338.

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10125/23565

Extent

10 pages

Collections

2012 - Volume 10 : Ethnobotany Research and Applications

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