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Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Published in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Medicinal plants used to treat the most frequent diseases encountered in Ambalabe rural community, Eastern Madagascar

Authors: Nivo H. Rakotoarivelo, Fortunat Rakotoarivony, Aro Vonjy Ramarosandratana, Vololoniaina H. Jeannoda, Alyse R. Kuhlman, Armand Randrianasolo, Rainer W. Bussmann

Published in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Traditional medicine remains the only health care available in many rural areas in Madagascar like the rural community of Ambalabe, located in a very remote area in the eastern part of the country. With limited access to modern medicine, the local population uses medicinal plants to treat most diseases. In this study, we aimed to inventory medicinal plants used by local people and how those relate to the treatment of the most frequent diseases encountered in Ambalabe.

Methods

We interviewed participants in order to identify the most frequent diseases in the region and the medicinal plants used to treat them. The local physician was asked about the most frequent diseases, and ethnobotanical surveys to record medicinal plants and their uses, using semi-structured interviews and free listing, were conducted among 193 informants in local villages, of which 54 % were men and 46 % were women, ageing from 16 to 86 years. The local names, the uses of each plant species and the way they are prepared and administered were recorded and accompanied by herbarium specimens for identification. We also interviewed four traditional healers to elicit more details on the preparation and the use of plants.

Results

Our research allowed us to identify six most frequent diseases, namely diarrhea, malaria, stomach-ache, cough, bilharzia and dysentery. Among 209 plant species identified as having medicinal use, 83 species belonging to 49 families and 77 genera were used to treat these diseases. Our analyses highlighted the 11 commonly used species for their treatment, and also 16 species with a high fidelity level (FL ≥ 75 %) for each ailment. Diarrhea is one of the diseases with high number of species recorded.

Conclusions

This study highlighted the closed relationship between people in Ambalabe and plant species, especially when faced with frequent diseases. However, most of the species used were collected in the surroundings of the villages. Few species were from Vohibe forest in which a management system on the use of plant species was already established. Therefore, a sustainable use management should be considered for wild species from which medicinal plants are highly abundant.
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Metadata
Title
Medicinal plants used to treat the most frequent diseases encountered in Ambalabe rural community, Eastern Madagascar
Authors
Nivo H. Rakotoarivelo
Fortunat Rakotoarivony
Aro Vonjy Ramarosandratana
Vololoniaina H. Jeannoda
Alyse R. Kuhlman
Armand Randrianasolo
Rainer W. Bussmann
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1746-4269
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-015-0050-2

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