2019, Vol. 7, Issue 4, Part B

Background: Globally, medicinal plants have been used to treat different human ailments from time immemorial. In Kenya, various plants are used by local people in the treatment of various diseases. This is a common practice in Nandi county due to scarce health facilities in the region, traditional beliefs, cultural barriers and availability of medicinal plants. The objective of this study was to carry out an ethnobotanical survey to identify and document species of the medicinal plants that are used to treat bacterial infections, which are common in the region.

Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted during the period of June 2016 to December 2017 through oral interviews and using structured questionnaires. The plant materials cited by the traditional practitioners were collected, and further authenticated in the lab at the department of biological Sciences University of Eldoret, where voucher specimens were deposited at the herbarium.

Results: The result showed that thirty-three (33) medicinal plants distributed in twenty four (24) botanical families are used to treat bacterial infections. It was evident that majority of plants was used to treat Pneumonia 11 (33.3%), wounds 10 and diarrhea 10 (30.3%). Other remedies used fewer plants. Lactucca glandulifera was recorded for the first time with ethnomedical uses while other species were previously reported.

Conclusion: The information gathered in this survey requires phytochemical analysis to validate the therapeutic potential of antibacterial compounds from promising plant species. This will therefore provide leads in the discovery and development of new Phytomedicine.