Traditional use of medicinal plants among the Barti tribe community in Fangoga area, Sennar State, Sudan

Abstract

In Sudan, traditional healing practice by herbalists is prevalent among tribes in remote areas that are deprived of modern health care. Barti tribe is a small Arabic speaking community moved from North Darfur state in early dry periods to the Fangoga area in Sennar State. In this study ethnobotanical survey on traditional medicinal plants used by this community was conducted in July 2016. The data was collected from a total of 85 informants with a mean age of 62 years using semi-structured questionnaires. Informants were asked about the plants and the harvested parts they use to cure the prevalent diseases, methods of preparing the herbal remedy, and administrative details. The study documented 53 medicinal plants used to treat various ailments. The most utilized plant families were Leguminosae followed by Apocynaceae and Malvaceae. Based on plant habits, herbs recorded the highest proportion of the medicinal plants (36%) followed by trees (34%) and shrubs (30%). Of the total plants 77% are wild and 23% are cultivated species. Commonly treated diseases are jaundice, rheumatic pain, stomach pain, and snake bites. Further pharmacological and phytochemical research studies are needed to identify active components in the reported plants, and their efficiency to cure the diseases.