African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines African Ethnomedicines Network ISSN: 0189-6016 Vol. 7, Num. 3, 2010, pp. 253-257

African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2010, pp. 253-257

Research Paper

PLANTS OF ZIMBABWE USED AS ANTI-FERTILITY AGENTS

Walter Sisulu University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiology, P.Bag X1, Mthatha 5117, Republic of South Africa E-mail: crusike@wsu.ac.za

Code Number: tc10053

Abstract

Ethnomedicine has gained a lot of recognition in post-independence Zimbabwe and yet little research on anti-fertility medicines has been done. Information on plants used as anti-fertility medicines was obtained by interviewing women, men, traditional healers and traditional midwives in urban Harare and surrounding rural areas of Mvurwi, Seke and Chiweshe. The use of 31 species belonging to 17 families for antifertility purposes is described. This survey forms a basis to initiate a study into the efficacy and toxicology of plants used by Zimbabwean women as traditional anti-fertility medicines.

Key words: antifertility; Zimbabwe; postcoital anticonceptive; abortifacient; contraceptive.

A well developed medical system was in existence well before the advent of modern medicine in Zimbabwe. The use of plants for medicinal, mythical and fertility regulating purposes has been practised in Zimbabwe for centuries. However, because fertility was very highly regarded and associated with the preservation of the tribe (dzinza), contraception was not openly discussed. Like most traditional societies, large families were especially prized (Bourdy et al., 1992). The 1994 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey reports that contraceptive use prevalence rate was 35 % for all women. Interestingly, 2 % of women interviewed in this survey of 1994 indicated that they used “folk” methods of contraception (Central Statistics Office, 1994). No data has been published about the folk methods of contraception in Zimbabwe. We, therefore, set out to compile a list of anti-fertility medicines used by Zimbabwean women and their method of use. The survey was carried out to initiate a study into the efficacy and toxicology of plants used by Zimbabwean women as traditional anti-fertility medicines.

Information on folkloric use of plants as anti-fertility agents was obtained from the literature (Gelfand et al., 1985) and through direct interviews with urban and rural men and women, traditional midwives (nyamukutas) and traditional healers (n'angas) referred to us by the Zimbabwe Traditional Healer’s Association (ZINATHA) head office, Harare. Both male and female n’angas specialising in female reproductive problems were interviewed. Information was obtained from urban Harare and from rural Mvurwi, Seke and Chiweshe areas. Informed consent was obtained from all interviewees. No plant specimens were collected, but when people interviewed knew the shrub but did not know the name of the plant, samples of the aerial parts of the plant were taken to a botanist for identification and authentication. Survey work was carried out intermittently between 1998 and 2002. Information on potential toxicity is also supplied, quoted from the work of Gelfand (1985).

At least 31 plant species belonging to 17 families are used forantifertility purposes in Zimbabwe. We learnt that Zimbabwean traditional antifertility methods may be classified into four broad classes:

1) Mukutura/Nyamukutura, which means, “to spill”. Plant part is air dried and then ground into a powder. Powder in porridge, infusion or decoction is taken orally the morning after sexual intercourse to "spill" the male seed (Table 1). These plants may have post-coital contraceptive effects.

2) Kurera, which means to “look after and allow to grow”. Herbs in this class are contraceptives taken for child spacing purposes. Herbal preparation is taken orally after weaning and periods of effectiveness are varied, but commonly require daily intake. Alternatively, a "zango", a talisman of part of a plant (root, stem, bark or seed) is tied around the waist. It is claimed that as long as the zango is around the waist, pregnancy will not occur. When one is ready to conceive, the zango is broken off thus reversing the contraceptive effects (Table 2).

3) Abortifacients may be used as a birth control method. Abortion remedies are administered orally or by introduction of the medicine into the vagina or cervix to induce premature labour. Nyamukutas and some n'angas are well aware of plants with abortifacient activity and despite the fact that abortion is illegal in Zimbabwe, except under special circumstances, a wealth of information was available from interviews most of which was in agreement with literature (Gelfand et al., 1985).

4) Abstinence was encouraged in the traditional lifestyle, and the abstinence period began with pregnancy (sexual relations during pregnancy were thought to endanger the foetus) and lasted until weaning - in most instances. There are claims that both men and women can take herbal medicines to suppress sexual drive. We were however unable to get names of plants used for abstinence. However, male polygamy, an acceptable traditional practice, promoted abstinence by the woman while the man continued having an active sex life with the other wife or wives.

1. Desmodium barbatum (chinzungunzungu): In two reported cases of attempted abortion, insertion of the root into the vagina caused death (National Herbarium Poisonous Substances File, sub nomine, Umvuma CR9/3/74 and Mashaba SDD1/76, Zimbabwe.

2. Trichilia dregeana: This was prescribed as an enema to a man suffering from stomach ailment and the patient later died (National Herbarium Poisonous Substances File, sub nomine, Chipinge CR15/5/75, Zimbabwe).

3. Croton megalobotrys: Whole plant is poisonous although there are no reported cases caused by it.

4. Ricinus communis: All parts of this plant are poisonous especially the seeds.

5. Cucumis hirsutis: Prescribed to a man for venereal disease who later died after a bout of vomiting (National Herbarium Poisonous Substances File, sub nomine, Cashel SDD3/74, Zimbabwe).

Discussion

These results show that suppression of fertility was a thriving practice even in the era when fertility was highly regarded. Despite the availability of modern contraceptive methods, for economic reasons women continue to use medicinal plants for contraceptive purposes. Furthermore, because abortion is illegal in Zimbabwe, young girls who find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy resort to using abortifacient plants to get rid of the pregnancy. We have identified 31 species in 17 families used in Zimbabwe as antifertility agents. Worldwide, there is continuing hope that a traditional plant may provide an efficacious, safe and reliable contraceptive method (Nath et al., 1992; Farnsworth et al., 1975). The World Health Organisation has supported work towards the development of such a goal (Farnsworth et al. 1975; Garg et al.,1978; Rao et al 1979). This survey forms a basis for implementing a research program to study the efficacy and toxicology of plants used by Zimbabwean women as traditional anti-fertility medicines.

Table 3

Acknowledgements

This work was kindly supported by the Michael Gelfand Medical Research Foundation of Zimbabwe. The author expresses gratitude to the Foundation and the Board of Trustees

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