An ethnobotanical survey of plant species used for medicinal purposes in Amuru district, northern Uganda

Authors

  • Bornfree Gum Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Muni University, P.O Box 725, Arua, Uganda
  • Robert Opoke Muni University
  • Betty Akwongo Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Muni University, P.O Box 725, Arua, Uganda
  • Benson Oloya
  • John Bosco Omony Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Muni University, P.O Box 725, Arua, Uganda
  • Robert Opiro Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gulu University, P.O Box 166, Gulu, Uganda
  • Morgan Andama Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Muni University, P.O Box 725, Arua, Uganda
  • Godwin Anywar Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
  • Geoffrey Maxwell Malinga Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gulu University, P.O Box 166, Gulu, Uganda

Abstract

Background: Medicinal plants provide health care to rural communities that have limited access to modern medicine in Uganda. Thus, documenting medicinal plants is important for their sustainable utilisation and conservation of medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge.

Methods: A cross-sectional ethnobotanical survey was conducted in August 2021 to assess the knowledge and use of medicinal plants in Lamogi Sub-County, Amuru district. We randomly sampled and interviewed 334 household heads using semi-structured questionnaires. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, familiarity index (FI), fidelity level (FL) and informant consensus factor (ICF).

Results: Most of the respondents (90%) had knowledge of medicinal plants used for treating ailments in their community (high ICF values above 0.9). Plant with the highest FI value was Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip.  indicating its wide use in the community. Chi-square tests showed significant associations between the knowledge of medicinal plants and education level, occupation, age, marital status and monthly income of respondents (p < 0.05). Forty-nine medicinal plants from 30 families were documented, with Fabaceae and Asteraceae having the most species. Leaves were the most frequently used plant parts (65.4%), followed by roots (13.6%). Herbal remedies were mostly prepared by crushing and smearing on the body, infusion, decoction and administered orally.

Conclusion: The people of Amuru district have rich indigenous knowledge of diverse medicinal plants used for treating ailments. Most medicinal plants are harvested from the wild, threatening their survival and this requires putting in place practical conservation measures.

Keywords: Ethnobotanical, Ethnomedicine, Herbal remedies, Northern Uganda, Traditional use

Author Biographies

Bornfree Gum, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Muni University, P.O Box 725, Arua, Uganda

Researcher in the department of Biology, Muni Univeristy.

Robert Opoke, Muni University

Senior Lecturer in the department of Biology, Muni University

Betty Akwongo, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Muni University, P.O Box 725, Arua, Uganda

Lecturer in the department of Biology, Muni University

Benson Oloya

Lecturer in the department of Chemistry, Muni University

John Bosco Omony, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Muni University, P.O Box 725, Arua, Uganda

Lecturer in the department of Biology, Muni University

Robert Opiro, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gulu University, P.O Box 166, Gulu, Uganda

Senior Lecturer in the department of Biology, Gulu University

Morgan Andama, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Muni University, P.O Box 725, Arua, Uganda

Assoc. Prof. in the department of Biology, Muni University

Godwin Anywar , Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda

Lecturer in the department of plant sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Makerere University

Geoffrey Maxwell Malinga, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gulu University, P.O Box 166, Gulu, Uganda

Senior Lecturer in the department of Biology, Gulu University

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Published

2024-09-12

How to Cite

Gum, B. ., Opoke, R., Akwongo, B. ., Oloya, B. ., Omony, J. B., Opiro, R., Andama, M. ., Anywar , G. ., & Malinga, G. M. (2024). An ethnobotanical survey of plant species used for medicinal purposes in Amuru district, northern Uganda. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 29, 1–17. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5995

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Section

Research