Development of conservation and propagation techniques for Pelargonium Sidoides DC : an overexploited medicinal plant in the Eastern Cape
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Date
2006
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Publisher
University of Fort Hare
Abstract
The collection of medicinal plants from the wild for international market and local uses is a very common activity in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Pelargonium sidoides is an indigenous medicinal plant of South Africa harvested for local uses and international trade. Due to its high economic importance, the rate and the number of its harvesters have increased in recent time. This has led to a drastic drop in the population of the species in the wild. This is a report on the conservation initiative for Pelargonium sidoides; a South African herb widely used for the treatment of many respiratory and bacterial diseases in humans especially in children and livestock. The aims of the study were to validate the medicinal efficacy of the species and document various conservation and propagation techniques for the plant. In order to develop sustainable conservation program for the species, various studies were conducted on its general growth and propagation techniques. These include the collection of ethnobotanical information, validation of medicinal efficacy of the species, vegetative and micropropagation methods, germination study of its seeds and its morphological characterization. The results revealed that the roots of the species are used mainly for the treatment of cold related diseases in both humans and livestock, and that the rate and methods of harvesting are not sustainable. A comparative study of the roots and shoots of the species revealed that the shoot could as well substitute for the roots in the treatment of bacterial infections. Vegetative propagation of P. sidoides was achieved using the vine and the petiole. Three vine tip cuttings (2, 4 and 6 cm) of the species were rooted in a potted experiment under controlled environment. 6 cm vine length exhibited the best result for different
Description
PhD Thesis
Keywords
Conservation plants, Medicinal plants, Pelargoniums
Citation
Lewu,F.B.Development of conservation and propagation techniques for Pelargonium Sidoides DC : an overexploited medicinal plant in the Eastern Cape.Alice.University of Fort Hare.