Table 1

Diversity of plant species and methods used in management of ENT diseases in Central Kenya

Species name
Family
Kikuyu name
Disease
Part used
Method of drug preparation
Method of drug administration

Acacia mellifera (Vahl) Benth.
Mimosaceae
Mûthigira
WC
Bark

Chewing
Acacia mellifera (Vahl) Benth.
Mimosaceae
Mûthigira
Cg
Bark
Crushing
Chewing
Ajuga remota Benth
Lamiaceae
Wanjirû wa rûriî
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Ajuga remota Benth.
Lamiaceae
Wanjirû wa rûriî
Cg
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Asparagus setaceus (Kunth) Jessop
Asparagaceae
Karûrûra
Cg
Leaves
Crushing/pounding
Chewing
Aspilia pluriseta Schweinf.
Asteraceae
Muutî
Cg
Bark
Crushing
Chewing
Aspilia pluriseta Schweinf.
Asteraceae
Muutî
OM
Sap
Squeezed from stems
Directly installed
Bidens pilosa L.
Asteraceae
Mûcege
NB
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Caesalpinia volkensii Harms
Caesalpiniaceae
Mûbûthî
CC
Roots
Crushing to release sap
Topically by rubbing nasal region
Carissa edulis Forssk.
Apocynaceae
Mûkawa
As
Roots Leaves
Boil
Orally
Carissa edulis Forssk.
Apocynaceae
Mûkawa
CP
Roots
Boiling Soup added
Orally
Carissa edulis Forssk.
Apocynaceae
Mûkawa
CC
Roots
Boiling
Orally
Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle
Rutaceae
Ndimu
As
Fruit
Boiling
Orally
Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle
Rutaceae
Ndimû
CC
Fruit
Boiling
Orally
Clematis brachiata Thunb.
Ranunculaceae
Mûgaya ng'ûndu
CC
Leaves
Boiling to release steam
Inhalation of steam
Clutia abyssinica Jaub. & Spach
Euphorbiaceae
Mûthimambûri
To
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Coffea arabica L.
Rubiaceae
Kahûa/Mûhûa
Cg
Root
Boiling
Orally
Colocasia antiquorum Schutt
Araceae
Kîrûtû
OM
Sap
Direct
Directly installed
Combretum collinum Fres.
Combretaceae
Mûranjîkî
OM
Leaves
Sap extracted
Directly installed
Crinum macawanii Bak.
Liliaceae
Gûtûngûrû kîa ngoma
As
Tuber
Boiling
Topically
Crinum macawanii Bak.
Liliaceae
Gîtoka
OM
Leaves
Heated, sap squeeze
Directly installed
Crinum macawanii Bak.
Liliaceae
Gîtûngûrû kîa ngoma
To
Bulb
Crushing
Massage
Crotalaria agatiflora Schweinf.
Papilionaceae
Mûcingiri wa ngambainî
OM
Leaves
Crushing, some water added
Directly installed
Croton megalocarpus Hutch.
Euphorbiaceae
Mûkindûri
Cg
Bark
Pounding
Chewing
Croton megalocarpus Hutch.
Euphorbiaceae
Mûkindûri
To
Roots
Pounded
Chewing
Cuscuta kilimanjari Oliv.
Convolvulaceae
Thîna
OM
Sap
Collected from stems
Directly installed
Cussonia holstii Engl.
Araliaceae
Mûruruku
Cg
Bark
Pounding
Chewing
Dalbergia lactea Vatke
Papilionaceae
Mwaritha
As
Wet leaves
Crushed to release sap
Topically
Datura stramonium L.
Solanaceae
Ndatura
To
Stems
Crushing
Massage
Dombeya burgessiniae Gerrard
Sterculiaceae
Mûkeû
Cg
Bark
Pounding
Chewing
Englerina woodfordioides (Schweinf.) Balle
Loranthaceae
Kîeha
CC
Whole
Boiling
Orally
Erythrina abyssinica DC.
Papilionaceae
Mûhûtî
Cg
Bark
Boiling
Orally
Erythrina abyssinica DC.
Papilionaceae
Mûhûtî
NB
Bark
Boiling
Orally
Eucalyptus saligna Smith
Myrtaceae
Mûbaû
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Inhalation of steam
Euphorbia joyae Bally & S. Carter
Euphorbiaceae
Kariaria
To
Stem
Boiling
Orally
Juniperus procera Engl.
Cupressaceae
Mûtarakwa
CC
Bark
Boiling
Orally
Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth.
Bignoniaceae
Mûratina wa thûkûrîi
CC
Rhizome
Boiling
Orally
Kyllinga bulbosa P. Beau.
Cyperaceae
Ngothe
OM
Bulb
Bulb crushed to release sap
Directly installed
Kyllinga bulbosa P. Beau.
Cyperaceae
Nyeki/Kîgombe
To
Leaves
Crushing
Chewing
Lactuca inermis Forssk.
Asteraceae
Mûthûnga
To
Leaves
Dry leaves in shade and soak in hot water
Orally
Lantana camara L.
Verbenaceae
Rûîthiki
CC
Leaves
Crushing of wet leaves
Inhalation
Lantana camara L.
Verbenaceae
Mûkenia
OM
Leaves
Crushing
Directly installed
Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng.
Verbenaceae
Mûthirîti
CC
Leaves
Crushing, steeped in hot water or milk
Orally
Mangifera indica L.
Anacardiaceae
Mwîembe
As
Leaves
Boil
Orally
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell
Celastraceae
Mûthuthi
To
Sap
Squeezed from stems
Topically
Melia azadirachta L.
Meliaceae
Mûarubaine
To
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Melia azadirachta L.
Meliaceae
Mwarumbaine
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Momordica foetida Schumach.
Cucurbitaceae
Karera
To
Leaves
Crushing
Chewing
Ocimum basilicum L.
Lamiaceae
Mûtaa
CC
Leaves
Crushed/Ground, steeped in hot water or milk
Orally
Ocimum gratissimum L.
Lamiaceae
Mûkandu
OM
Leaves
Crushed
Directly installed
Ocotea usambarensis Engl.
Lauraceae
Mûthaitî
CP
Bark
Boiling
Orally
Ocotea usambarensis Engl.
Lauraceae
Mûthaitî
Cg
Bark
Boiling
Orally
Osyris lanceolata Hocst & Stendel.
Santalaceae
Mûthaithi
N/T
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Physalis peruviana L.
Solanaceae
Mûnathi
As
leaves
Boiling
Orally
Piliostigma thonnigii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh.
Papilionaceae
Mûkûra-ûtukû
Cg
Inner bark
Pounding
Chewing
Piper capense L.
Piperaceae
Mûrûngû
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Pistacia aethiopica Kokwaro
Anacardiaceae
Mûheheti
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Plectranthus comosus Sims
Lamiaceae
Maigoya
OM
Leaves
Crushing
Directly installed
Psidium guajava L.
Myrtaceae
Mûbera
As
Leaves Dry
Boiling
Orally
Psidium guajava L.
Myrtaceae
Mûbera
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan
Caesalpiniaceae
Mûtandambogo
CC
Roots
Boiling
Orally
Rhamnus prinoides L'Herit
Rhamnaceae
Mûkarakinga
CP
Roots
Boiling Soup added
Orally
Rhamnus prinoides L'Herit
Rhamnaceae
Mûkarakinga
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Rhamnus prinoides L'Herit
Rhamnaceae
Mûkarakinga
To
Roots/Stem
Boiling
Orally
Ricinus communis L.
Euphorbiaceae
Mûbarîki
Cg
Seeds
Grinding the seeds and cooking the fatty part
Orally
Rubus apetalus Poir
Rosaceae
Mûtare
To
Fruit and leaves
Boiling
Orally
Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R. Br.
Euphorbiaceae
Ndarû
OM
Stem
Heated, Sap squeezed
Directly installed
Schkuhria pinnata (Lam.) Thell.
Asteraceae
Gakuinini
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Schkuhria pinnata (Lam.) Thell.
Asteraceae
Gakuinini
Cg
Roots/Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Senna didymobotrya (Fresen.) Irwin & Barneby
Caesalpiniaceae
Mwenû
To
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Solanum aculeastrum Dunal
Solanaceae
Gîtûra
To
Root
Boiling
Orally
Solanum anguivi Lam.
Solanaceae
Gatongu
OM
Fruits
Juice squeezed
Directly installed
Sonchus oleraceus L.
Asteraceae
Mahiû
CP
Roots
Boiling Soup added
Orally
Sonchus oleraceus L.
Asteraceae
Mahiû
To
Roots
Boiling
Orally
Sphilanthes mauritiania (Pers.) DC.
Asteraceae
Gatharaita
CC
Flowers
Crushing
Chewing
Sporobolus pyramidalis P. Beauv.
Poaceae
Kagutu
Cg
Root
Boiling
Orally
Tagetes minuta L.
Asteraceae
Mûbangi
As
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray
Asteraceae
Marûrû
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray
Asteraceae
Marûrû
Cg
Leaves/Roots
Boiling
Orally
Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam.
Rutaceae
Mûrûrûwe
CC
Roots
Boiling
Orally
Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam.
Rutaceae
Mûrûrûwe
CC
Roots
Boiling
Inhalation
Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam.
Rutaceae
Mûrûrûwe
Cg
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Urtica massaica Mildbr.
Urticaceae
Thabai
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Vernonia lasiopus O.Hoffm.
Asteraceae
Mûchatha
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Vernonia lasiopus O.Hoffm.
Asteraceae
Mûchatha
OM
Flowers
Sap squeezed
Directly installed
Warburgia ugandensis Sprague
Canellaceae
Mûthîga
CC
Bark and leaves
Boiling
Orally
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
Solanaceae
Mûrumbae
As
Roots
Boiling
Orally
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
Solanaceae
Mûrumbae
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Zanthoxyllum usambarensis (Engl.) Kokwaro
Rutaceae
Mwikunya
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally
Zehneria scabra (L.f.) Sond.
Cucurbitaceae
Rwegethia
CC
Leaves
Boiling
Orally

Kikuyu names in brackets

As = Asthma (Githûri kinene, Acima, Gîkorora kia ngûkû)

CC = Common cold (Homa, Kihuti)

Cg = Cough (Ruhaya, Gîkorora)

CP = Chest Pains (Githûri)

NB = Nose bleeding

N/T = Neck/throat (Ngingo)

OM = Otitis media (Njika, bûra)

To = Tonsil (Ngaû)

WC = Wooping cough (Gîkoroa thakame)

Njoroge and Bussmann Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006 2:54   doi:10.1186/1746-4269-2-54