RESUMO
Ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) has been used by local South African communities for centuries. However, the knowledge of EVM is under threat due to the influence of Western medicine and acculturation. This study aimed to document the knowledge of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants in four villages within the Mahikeng Local Municipality to help preserve this valuable knowledge. The study used a qualitative research approach and targeted practitioners and holders of ethnoveterinary knowledge in four villages. Participants were recruited using key informants and snowball techniques, and in-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured interview schedules. The data collected was analyzed thematically, and herbarium specimens were prepared from medicinal plants during field walks and sent to the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) for identification. The study documented the use of thirty-one medicinal plant species, with Senna italica (sebetebete) emerging as the most frequently used species for multiple animal health indications. The most common diseases treated using EVM were gala (general malaise due to bile reflux) and retained placenta. Participants strongly agreed on the cultural significance of plants for treating five animal diseases, including coughs and diarrhea. Although the study revealed a high level of trust in ethnoveterinary medicine among participants, they expressed concern regarding the loss of this knowledge due to the influence of Western medicine and acculturation. The study concluded that the indigenous knowledge and use of ethnoveterinary medicine was prevalent among livestock owners in the communities of the North West Province, and more studies need to be conducted in other areas to preserve this valuable knowledge.
RESUMO
The use of medicinal plants for contraception remains a common practice among South African ethnic groups. The present study assessed the phytochemical profile, cytotoxicity, acute oral toxicity and efficacy of a herbal mixture used for contraception by the Batswana of South Africa. An aqueous extract was prepared from equal quantities (in terms of weight) of Bulbine frutescens (roots), Helichrysum caespititium (leaves) and Teucrium trifidum (leaves) based on a recipe used by traditional health practitioners. The phytochemical profiles of the freeze-dried herbal mixture were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, cytotoxicity was determined using an MTT assay on Vero cells and in vivo contraceptive efficacy was evaluated using seven Sprague Dawley rats per control and treatment groups. The control group received distilled water while test groups received 5, 50 and 300 mg/kg of the herbal mixture, which was administered orally once a day for three consecutive days. Subsequently, female rats were paired 1:1 with males for 3 days. Their weights were measured weekly and incidence of pregnancy was recorded. The GC-MS chromatogram revealed the presence of 12 identified and 9 unidentified compounds. In terms of safety, the herbal mixture had an IC50 value of 755.2 µg/mL and 2000 mg/kg, which was the highest tested dose that caused no mortality or morbidity in the rats. A contraceptive efficacy of 14.5% was exerted with 50 mg/kg herbal mixture extract while other doses had no effects given that all the rats were pregnant. Based on a chi-square test (p < 0.05), there was no correlation between the tested herbal mixture doses and contraception, nor on the weight of the rats. Overall, the herbal mixture extract was found to be safe but had limited contraceptive efficacy at the tested doses. In future studies, exploring increased dose range, solvent extract types and hormonal analysis will be pertinent.
