Traditional medicinal plants used for gastrointestinal disorders by the Nyamwezi traditional health practitioners of Tabora region, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal disorders (GIDs) have a considerable effect on global morbidity and mortality. Nyamwezi people in Tanzania still use traditional medicinal plants (TMPs) as their first-aid medications against GIDs. The purpose of this study was to record the TMPs that Tanzania's Nyamwezi traditional health practitioners (THPs) employ to manage GIDs. Methods: Ethnomedicinal data on TMPs were gathered from 108 THPs. Quantitative approaches were used to evaluate Family Use Value (FUV), Species Use Value (UV), Plant Part Value (PPV), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Fidelity Level (FL). Results: The study revealed that 64 TMPs belonging to 33 families were used to treat GIDs. The most prevalent family was Fabaceae (11 species). Root (PPV = 0.464) and decoction (51%) were the preferred plant part and preparation method, respectively. About 96.9% of the remedies were orally administered. The highest ICF value of 0.97 was recorded for constipation, diarrhoea and gastritis/worm infections, indicating excellent agreement among the THPs. The highest FL of 100% was recorded for Euphorbia candelabrum, Sorghum bicolor and Cassia abbreviata, indicating conformity of knowledge on the species with the best curative potential. Conclusions: The study reveals that locals in the Tabora region use a wide diversity of TMPs to treat GDIs. The relatively high ICF advocates a substantial consensus among THPs on using the recorded TMPs. Though the ethnomedicinal data presented in this study serve as the baseline for further research for developing new drugs against GIDs, further research on the phytochemistry, safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action of the recorded TMPs is recommended. Keywords: Ethnobotanical, ethnomedicine, herbal medicine, indigenous, pharmacology, quantitative study