Medicinal plants in Butalejja District, Eastern Uganda: plants, medical importance, conservation and Medicinal Traditional Knowledge

Abstract Background: Currently, the global consumption of herbal medicine is increasing steadily, incurring extinction risks to the medicinal plant species. Uganda is one of the top ten countries with alarming levels of loss of medicinal plant biodiversity, and erosion of the associated Medicinal Traditional Knowledge (MTK). This study documented medicinal plant species, and examined the approaches used in preventing extinction of these species and the associated MTK in Butalejja district. Methods: A cross – sectional study design was adopted to conduct an ethnopharmacological survey, using semi-structured questionnaires administered to purposively selected herbalists. Simple descriptive statistics were adopted for data analysis using STATA version-15.0. Results: A total of 133 medicinal plant species, belonging to 34 families and 125 genera were identified. Most species belonged to family Fabaceae (22; 65%), and Solanaceae (10; 29%). Leaves were the commonest organ used (81; 80%), followed by roots (15; 15%). Medicinal herbs were mainly administered orally as decoctions (100; 34.6%), and infusions (45; 16%). The most cited diseases treated were cough (24; 7.74%), Ulcers (23; 7.42%), and Malaria (14; 4.52%). Medicinal plants were majorly harvested from homestead farms and roadside vegetation, with wetlands being the least cited habitat. Efforts to stop the extinction of medicinal plants and MTK were inadequate. Conclusion and recommendations: There was high dependency on medicinal plant species for primary healthcare and income generation. Noted also was the accelerated loss of medicinal plant biodiversity due to habitat destruction, especially in swamps. The conservation of medicinal plants and MTK was largely attributed to traditional cultural values. There is need for validation of efficacy and safety of key medicinal plants identified in this study, to support their future adoption in clinical medicine and pharmaceutical industries. Inclusion of traditional cultural ideals in national biodiversity conservation programs is warranted.