PlantLife Volume 58.10, December 2024. Guardians of Nature: Preserving Medicinal Plant Knowledge and Conservation Practices

 

Guardians of Nature: Preserving Medicinal Plant Knowledge and Conservation Practices

Text by Eunezia Sitoe 

Photos by Eunezia Sitoe unless otherwise stated

Securidaca longepedunculata (Photo by R Boon)

Fruits of Securidaca longepedunculata

Research background

My journey into medicinal plant research began during my Honors degree at the University of Johannesburg, and it has evolved significantly through my Master's and PhD studies. My Master's project focused on the medicinal ethnobotany of Mozambique, resulting in the country's first comprehensive checklist of medicinal plants, published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. This study underscored the urgent need to document and preserve ethnobotanical knowledge while the custodians of this information can still share it.

For my PhD, I explored traditional medicinal practices among the Tsonga people in Mozambique and South Africa. This community-based research relied heavily on the willing participation of interviewees and community leaders who recognized the importance of the study and granted permission for the research on their lands. The aim was to document and compare medicinal plant species and their uses across four villages in both countries. The findings revealed significant differences in traditional medicine and linguistic knowledge, exposing gaps requiring further investigation.

The Case of Securidaca longepedunculata

The depth of traditional plant knowledge within indigenous communities is astounding. While conducting fieldwork in Mhinga village, Limpopo, I joined two traditional healers in search of Securidaca longepedunculata, locally known as Mpesu, Mpetso, or Tsatsu and Fibre tree in English. This plant is traditionally used for stomach cleansing, coughs, colds, male sexual stamina, sinusitis, and as a cleansing remedy for luck (recorded in my unpublished thesis).

Sarah Mbutsani, a traditional healer, who helped with my field work

Sarah Mbutsani harvesting plants

Securidaca longepedunculata root being harvested

Harvested roots of S. longepedunculata

However, finding mature specimens of Securidaca longepedunculata proved challenging. When we did find this species, it was usually small (less than a metre tall) ― S. longepedunculata is a small-medium sized tree that can grow up to 6m tall.  Traditionally, healers harvest portions of the root, ensuring the remaining root system is covered with soil to promote regrowth. All healers respected this practice so that the next person coming after them could also access the plant. Unfortunately, unsustainable practices by other healers and harvesters have led to dwindling populations. The healer had to negotiate with a friend to preserve a tree in his yard as a last resort for future use.

Mature Securidaca longepedunculata conserved in a friend's garden

The species, last assessed as of Least Concern in 2005, now faces new threats. It is likely that its commercialization as a libido-enhancing remedy has increased overharvesting by those unfamiliar with sustainable methods. This situation mirrors that of Warburgia salutaris, a once-abundant medicinal tree, now Endangered due to overharvesting but subject to conservation efforts for reintroduction into the wild.

Traditional Conservation and Sustainable Harvesting Practices

Traditional healers have developed innovative conservation methods to counter plant scarcity. For example, one participant grew Hypoxis hemerocallidea in her yard due to its scarcity in the wild in their part of the world. This practice, though partially motivated by convenience, alleviates pressure on wild populations. Similar methods are employed for Boophone disticha and certain Aloe species.

Boophone disticia in flower (top (Photo G Grieve)) and in cultivation (below). 

Other conservation practices are rooted in spirituality and tradition. For instance, Crinum stuhlmannii subsp. delagoense, is a bulb from the Amaryllidaceae family used for asthma and other chest ailments by the Tsonga of Mozambique and South Africa. The plant is processed by cutting the bulb in half; it is believed that after cutting the piece that will be used, the top part of the plant (i.e. the stem and leaves) must be placed directly on top of the half of the bulb left in the soil. And once the two halves come together and regrow, the person is healed.  In addition, when collecting trees, healers avoid complete bark stripping by only harvesting from the tree’s east and west sides, allowing the tree to recover. 

Conclusion

Medicinal plants are vital to cultural and traditional practices in South Africa and globally. While access to modern medical facilities is important, the use of these plants is deeply embedded in ancestral knowledge. Beyond their medicinal value, these plants hold profound spiritual and cultural significance.

Ethnobotanical research plays a critical role in identifying threatened species and promoting sustainable harvesting practices. Collaborating with communities ensures conservation efforts align with traditional values and preserves this invaluable knowledge for future generations. By blending ancient wisdom with modern conservation science, we can protect both the plants and the cultural heritage they embody.

About the author: Johannesburg born Eunezia Sitoe recently completed her PhD having done her field work in Mozambique and north-east South Africa. She is currently employed by the Botanical Society of South Africa to support the CREW activities in the summer rainfall area. In addition, she provides assistance to the KZN Coastal Branch of the Botanical Society as well as doing work on some conservation projects.