Preliminary Medicinal Value Evaluation of Some Plants Used by the Ogiek in Management of Microbial Related Infections

Aim: The survey was targeted at documenting the indigenous plants that are used in the management of microbial related medical conditions within the Ogiek communities of Kenya.

Study Design: Purposive sampling approach was used to interview the traditional herbalist with the help of a questionnaire.

Place and Duration of the Study: Some 49 plants species used by the Ogiek, who are indigenous forest and forest product dwellers and users, in the management of microbial related conditions in human maladies were collected from the Mau Forest complex and prepared, for extractions and screened for antimicrobial activities at Kenyatta University and National Public Health Laboratories, Nairobi respectively. The plants were screened to ascertain their activities against selected human microbial infections.

Results: Crude methanol extracts from 16 species showed activities against various pathogenic organisms. There was also marked activities from two of the oils extracted from three species of the 16 plants.

Conclusion and Recommendations: Some plants have activities against selected microorganisms and this validates their continued use as medicine by the Ogiek communities and their neighbours as medicine. It has been suggested that further studies be done on the bioactive plant species to establish their bactericidal and fungicidal abilities; and their safety to humans to justify their continued use as medicine.