Lesibana Peter
University of Limpopo, Biodiversity, Graduate Student
- Having background in Botany, i am emerging researcher focusing on ethnobotany and phytochemistryedit
Research Interests:
BackgroundSexually transmitted infections continue to be a major health concern in sub-Saharan Africa where antimicrobial drugs are becoming ineffective due to increasing resistance. Many healthcare seekers in lower socio-economic... more
BackgroundSexually transmitted infections continue to be a major health concern in sub-Saharan Africa where antimicrobial drugs are becoming ineffective due to increasing resistance. Many healthcare seekers in lower socio-economic settings depend on invasive alien plants administered by traditional health practitioners to treat sexually transmitted infections.MethodsRoots of selected plants were analysed for phytoconstituents using standard methods. Both the disc diffusion model and microdilution technique were used to determine the inhibition zone and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of plant extracts against six clinical fungal strains and standard strain of Neisseria gonorrhoea. One-way ANOVA was used to find significant differences.ResultsDifferent phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, steroids, cardiac glycosides, terpenes, flavonoids, tannins and saponins were qualitatively detected, depending on plant species. Acetone extracted the highest number of phytoconstituents in ...
Research Interests:
Various indigenous cultures in the Limpopo Province of South Africa are transitioning from a traditional lifestyle to a westernised one. This leads to a loss of cultural identity and knowledge. Consequently, an ethnobotanical survey was... more
Various indigenous cultures in the Limpopo Province of South Africa are transitioning from a traditional lifestyle to a westernised one. This leads to a loss of cultural identity and knowledge. Consequently, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted to investigate the medicinal uses of indigenous plants in the Mogalakwena Local Municipality of the Waterberg District in Limpopo Province, South Africa, an area experiencing rapid transition to a western lifestyle. The study interviewed 30 traditional healers via a semi-structured questionnaire. Thirty five indigenous plant species were documented to be used in the treatment of 37 ailments. These species are distributed among 22 families, of which Asteraceae (5 species), Fabaceae (4 species) and Hyacinthaceae (3 species) are the most prominent. The remaining families are represented by either a single or two species. Bark and roots accounted for 50% of the material used, followed by leaves (12%) and tuber (8%), amongst other. Preparation of remedies was mainly through decoctions (40%), followed by infusions (33.3%), paste (8.3%), and fumes through burning (6.7%). The high percentage of bark and roots use is an area of concern. Furthermore this study found many instances of unsustainable harvesting techniques. These issues need immediate attention for the long term conservation of a number of threatened species identified in this study.