Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major killer ailments in the world. The incidences of the diseases are on the alarming rate especially in the developing countries.  An ethnobotanical survey of plants used for the treatment of these diseases and some of their predisposing factors was carried out in the Nkonkobe Municipality in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Information on the names of plants, their parts used and methods of preparation was collected through a questionnaire which was administered to herbalists, traditional healers and rural dwellers. The study revealed 19 plant species that are used for the treatment of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and chest complaints in the Municipality. 53% of the plants mentioned were used for the management of chest pain, 47% for high blood pressure, 42% for heart disease, 16% for stroke and 11% for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. These plants belong to 16 families of which Asteraceae,Hypoxidaceae and Fabaceae are the most prominent. The most commonly utilized portions of plants for medicinal purposes include the leaves and bulbs. Other parts used are roots, stems and corms. The methods of preparation often employed are decoctions and infusions whilst the medication was frequently administered orally. Tulbaghia violacea was repeatedly mentioned as the plant species used for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and is predisposing factors in the study area.

Key words: Medicinal plants, cardiovascular diseases, ethno-medicine, Tulbaghia violacea.