Can We Exploit and Adapt Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno -Botanicals for a Healthy Living in the Face of Emerging Diseases Like Ebola in Africa

Kenneth Anchang Yongabi; Laura. DeLuca; Keto Mshigeni; Suki K. K. Mwendwa; Alex Dudley; Francisca Nambu Njuakom

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15

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Can We Exploit and Adapt Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno -Botanicals for a Healthy Living in the Face of Emerging Diseases Like Ebola in Africa

Kenneth Anchang Yongabi, Laura. DeLuca, Keto Mshigeni, Suki K. K. Mwendwa, Alex Dudley, Francisca Nambu Njuakom

Received: 24 December 2014 Accepted: 28 December 2014 Published: 15 February 2015

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Abstract

In this essay, we attempted to catalogue and describe African indigenous knowledge, in contributing to sustainable health development in Sub Saharan Africa. In the face of poverty and threats of diseases such as ebola.We also describe how biotechnology can enhance cultural mechanism for improved health care. A snap shot of certain cultural habits that promote disease dissemination that would have to be modified is described. This report is basically a descriptive essay and partly based on a survey and collection of indigenous practices in Cameroon, and some cultures across countries in SSA. Some of the traditional knowledge relevant to disease transmission and control may form basis for experimentation, validation, development and application of appropriate medical biotechnologies for cheap, low tech disease control strategies and healthy living through a number of ethnobotanicals medicines, such as Occimum basilicum popularly called holy basil and in Kom language known as afuaih toh by many ethnicities of the Tikar in Ghana, Uganda, Gabon, parts of Kenya and Tanzania, Equitorial Guinea, Ethiopia, and Madagascar, who believe that the aromatic smell it emits dispels not only evil spirits but certain diseases such as HIV, Ebola and disease vectors. Such indigenous knowledge and science, with simple skills and familiarity, applied as an innovative approach to hygiene, medical challenges and disease control. Understand the practices, and see how to introduce interventions (incremental interventions), with existing indigenous knowledge enhanced with present science and technology, which you see can be applied to resolving present and possible outbreaks like Ebola. Generally called Macepo, tribes in Bukuru in northern Nigeria often used it to preserve dead bodies in remote villages where neither hospital nor morgue exist for days pending burial. Could scientific attention validate the use of African indigenous knowledge in Ebola prevention or future emerging diseases so that Africans can carry out safe burials within the context of their culture without risk of disease spread? We noted the believe amongst most ethnic groups regarding the use of Occimum basilicum, and leaf powder of some indigenous plants as a preservative for corpse or crops and insect repellent.This could serve as excellent platforms for mitigation and control of outbreaks such as Ebola.

DOI	10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15
Published in	American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Volume 3, Issue 1-1, February 2015) This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Innovations, Developments in the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of Ebola Disease (Marburg fever) and Hemorrhagic Fevers
Page(s)	24-28
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Indigenous Knowledge, Medicinal Plants, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Food Security, Biotechnology, Disease Control, Sustainable Development

References

[1]	Taylor, T. A (1977) Crop pests and diseases. Studies in the development of African resources(ed) G.C. Last and Akin L Mabogunje, Ibadan press.
[2]	I. Y. Chindo, K.A. Yongabi, M.O. Agho, Z. B. Timothy and D.N. Anong (2002) Extracts of Ageratum Conyzoides: Pesticidal and Phytochemical studies, Journal of chemical society of Nigeria. Vol .2. No. 27.
[3]	Kumar and Sacchanc, S.N (1979) Effects of some plant extracts on the conidial germination of curvularia pallescens. Indian Journal of Phytopathology 32: 489 – 491.
[4]	K. A. Yongabi, U. H. Dukku, M. O. Agho and I. Y. Chindo (2000) .Studies on the Antifungal properties of Urtica dioica uritcaceae (Stinging Nettle). Journal of Phytomedicine and Therapeutics Vol.5. No1, PP 39-43.
[5]	K. A. Yongabi, M. O. Agho, I. Y Chindo and M. W. Buba (2000).Evaluating the medicinal potentials of indigenous plants in controlling Microbial contamination of Poultry feed. Journal of phytomedicine and Therapeutics vol. 5, No 2, PP 98-102.
[6]	Yongabi, K. A; Agho, M. O; Adamu, H.M Adebitan, S. A; Angeh, J. E and Jalo I. I. (2002) Antibacterial Effects of the extracts of Carica papaya, Urfica dinca, and Aloe barbadensis on some Bacterial Isolates from Lycopersicon esculentum mill (tomato) Journal of Chemical Society of Nigeria, vol 27, No. 2, Pp 180-182
[7]	M.O. Agho, K. A. Yongabi A. G. Ibrahim and A.S. Sambo. Ecological Management of Dermatophdosis in Ruminants using plant – based products (unpublished).
[8]	Yongabi, K. A., Agho, M.O., Gurama, A. U., Adamu, H.M (2000),Sensitivity of Tomato rot fungi to some plant extracts. A paper presented at the 34th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria 115th – 20th October, Bauchi, Nigeria Adetumbi., M. A., Javer, G.T. and Lau, B. H (1986) Inhibition of in vitro Germination and Spherulation of Coccidiodes immitis by Allium Sativum. Current Microbiology 13: 73-76
[9]	Moore, G.S. and Atkins R.D (1977) The fungicidal and fungisstatic effects of acqueous garlic on medically important yeast – like fungi. Mycologia 69: 341-348.
[10]	J.A. Donaghy and A. M. Mckay (1994) The use of Kluyveromyces fragilis for the Extraction of orange peel pectins. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 76: 506-510
[11]	www.songhai org-Porto novo, 2003.
[12]	Sofowora, E. A. (1982) Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine in Africa Wiley, New York.
[13]	Gohil, V.P. and Vala, V.G (1996) Effects of Extracts ofsome medicinal plants on the growth of Fusarium Moniliforme. Indian Journal of Mycology and plant palthology 26(1) 110-111.
[14]	Guidelines on the conservation of medicinal plants COHO/IUGN WWF (1993) Some Medicinal forest of Africa and Latin America. Forest Resources

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Kenneth Anchang Yongabi, Laura. DeLuca, Keto Mshigeni, Suki K. K. Mwendwa, Alex Dudley, et al. (2015). Can We Exploit and Adapt Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno -Botanicals for a Healthy Living in the Face of Emerging Diseases Like Ebola in Africa. American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 3(1-1), 24-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15

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Kenneth Anchang Yongabi; Laura. DeLuca; Keto Mshigeni; Suki K. K. Mwendwa; Alex Dudley, et al. Can We Exploit and Adapt Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno -Botanicals for a Healthy Living in the Face of Emerging Diseases Like Ebola in Africa. Am. J. Clin. Exp. Med. 2015, 3(1-1), 24-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15

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Kenneth Anchang Yongabi, Laura. DeLuca, Keto Mshigeni, Suki K. K. Mwendwa, Alex Dudley, et al. Can We Exploit and Adapt Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno -Botanicals for a Healthy Living in the Face of Emerging Diseases Like Ebola in Africa. Am J Clin Exp Med. 2015;3(1-1):24-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15,
  author = {Kenneth Anchang Yongabi and Laura. DeLuca and Keto Mshigeni and Suki K. K. Mwendwa and Alex Dudley and Francisca Nambu Njuakom},
  title = {Can We Exploit and Adapt Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno -Botanicals for a Healthy Living in the Face of Emerging Diseases Like Ebola in Africa},
  journal = {American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine},
  volume = {3},
  number = {1-1},
  pages = {24-28},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15},
  abstract = {In this essay, we attempted to catalogue and describe African indigenous knowledge, in contributing to sustainable health development in Sub Saharan Africa. In the face of poverty and threats of diseases such as ebola.We also describe how biotechnology can enhance cultural mechanism for improved health care. A snap shot of certain cultural habits that promote disease dissemination that would have to be modified is described. This report is basically a descriptive essay and partly based on a survey and collection of indigenous practices in Cameroon, and some cultures across countries in SSA. Some of the traditional knowledge relevant to disease transmission and control may form basis for experimentation, validation, development and application of appropriate medical biotechnologies for cheap, low tech disease control strategies and healthy living   through a number of ethnobotanicals medicines, such as Occimum basilicum popularly called holy basil and in Kom language known as afuaih toh by many ethnicities of the Tikar in Ghana, Uganda, Gabon,  parts of Kenya and Tanzania, Equitorial Guinea, Ethiopia, and Madagascar, who believe that the aromatic smell it emits dispels  not only evil spirits but certain diseases such as HIV, Ebola and disease vectors. Such indigenous knowledge and science, with simple skills and familiarity, applied as an innovative approach to hygiene, medical challenges and disease control. Understand the practices, and see how to introduce interventions (incremental interventions), with existing indigenous knowledge enhanced with present science and technology, which you see can be applied to resolving present and possible outbreaks like Ebola. Generally called Macepo, tribes in Bukuru in northern Nigeria often used it to preserve dead bodies in remote villages where neither hospital nor morgue exist for days pending burial. Could scientific attention validate the use of African indigenous knowledge in Ebola prevention or future emerging diseases so that Africans can carry out safe burials within the context of their culture without risk of disease spread? We noted the believe amongst most ethnic groups  regarding the use of Occimum basilicum, and leaf powder of some indigenous plants as a preservative for corpse or crops and insect repellent.This could serve as excellent platforms for mitigation and control of outbreaks such as Ebola.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Can We Exploit and Adapt Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno -Botanicals for a Healthy Living in the Face of Emerging Diseases Like Ebola in Africa
AU  - Kenneth Anchang Yongabi
AU  - Laura. DeLuca
AU  - Keto Mshigeni
AU  - Suki K. K. Mwendwa
AU  - Alex Dudley
AU  - Francisca Nambu Njuakom
Y1  - 2015/02/15
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15
T2  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
JF  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
JO  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
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EP  - 28
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8133
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15
AB  - In this essay, we attempted to catalogue and describe African indigenous knowledge, in contributing to sustainable health development in Sub Saharan Africa. In the face of poverty and threats of diseases such as ebola.We also describe how biotechnology can enhance cultural mechanism for improved health care. A snap shot of certain cultural habits that promote disease dissemination that would have to be modified is described. This report is basically a descriptive essay and partly based on a survey and collection of indigenous practices in Cameroon, and some cultures across countries in SSA. Some of the traditional knowledge relevant to disease transmission and control may form basis for experimentation, validation, development and application of appropriate medical biotechnologies for cheap, low tech disease control strategies and healthy living   through a number of ethnobotanicals medicines, such as Occimum basilicum popularly called holy basil and in Kom language known as afuaih toh by many ethnicities of the Tikar in Ghana, Uganda, Gabon,  parts of Kenya and Tanzania, Equitorial Guinea, Ethiopia, and Madagascar, who believe that the aromatic smell it emits dispels  not only evil spirits but certain diseases such as HIV, Ebola and disease vectors. Such indigenous knowledge and science, with simple skills and familiarity, applied as an innovative approach to hygiene, medical challenges and disease control. Understand the practices, and see how to introduce interventions (incremental interventions), with existing indigenous knowledge enhanced with present science and technology, which you see can be applied to resolving present and possible outbreaks like Ebola. Generally called Macepo, tribes in Bukuru in northern Nigeria often used it to preserve dead bodies in remote villages where neither hospital nor morgue exist for days pending burial. Could scientific attention validate the use of African indigenous knowledge in Ebola prevention or future emerging diseases so that Africans can carry out safe burials within the context of their culture without risk of disease spread? We noted the believe amongst most ethnic groups  regarding the use of Occimum basilicum, and leaf powder of some indigenous plants as a preservative for corpse or crops and insect repellent.This could serve as excellent platforms for mitigation and control of outbreaks such as Ebola.
VL  - 3
IS  - 1-1
ER  -

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Author Information

Kenneth Anchang Yongabi

Department of Tropical Infectious Diseases and public Health Engineering Research Group (TIDPHERG), Phytobiotechnology Research Foundation Institute, Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda, Cameroon
Laura. DeLuca

Naropa University Environmental Studies and Peace Studies, Department of Anthropology, the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
Keto Mshigeni

Hubert Kairuki Memorial University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Suki K. K. Mwendwa

Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Technology, Innovation, and partnerships, Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
Alex Dudley

Undergraduate African Studies Student, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
Francisca Nambu Njuakom

Cultural research group, Phytobiotechnology Research Foundation (PRF), Bamenda, Cameroon

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APA Style

Kenneth Anchang Yongabi, Laura. DeLuca, Keto Mshigeni, Suki K. K. Mwendwa, Alex Dudley, et al. (2015). Can We Exploit and Adapt Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno -Botanicals for a Healthy Living in the Face of Emerging Diseases Like Ebola in Africa. American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 3(1-1), 24-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15

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ACS Style

Kenneth Anchang Yongabi; Laura. DeLuca; Keto Mshigeni; Suki K. K. Mwendwa; Alex Dudley, et al. Can We Exploit and Adapt Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno -Botanicals for a Healthy Living in the Face of Emerging Diseases Like Ebola in Africa. Am. J. Clin. Exp. Med. 2015, 3(1-1), 24-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15

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AMA Style

Kenneth Anchang Yongabi, Laura. DeLuca, Keto Mshigeni, Suki K. K. Mwendwa, Alex Dudley, et al. Can We Exploit and Adapt Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno -Botanicals for a Healthy Living in the Face of Emerging Diseases Like Ebola in Africa. Am J Clin Exp Med. 2015;3(1-1):24-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15,
  author = {Kenneth Anchang Yongabi and Laura. DeLuca and Keto Mshigeni and Suki K. K. Mwendwa and Alex Dudley and Francisca Nambu Njuakom},
  title = {Can We Exploit and Adapt Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno -Botanicals for a Healthy Living in the Face of Emerging Diseases Like Ebola in Africa},
  journal = {American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine},
  volume = {3},
  number = {1-1},
  pages = {24-28},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15},
  abstract = {In this essay, we attempted to catalogue and describe African indigenous knowledge, in contributing to sustainable health development in Sub Saharan Africa. In the face of poverty and threats of diseases such as ebola.We also describe how biotechnology can enhance cultural mechanism for improved health care. A snap shot of certain cultural habits that promote disease dissemination that would have to be modified is described. This report is basically a descriptive essay and partly based on a survey and collection of indigenous practices in Cameroon, and some cultures across countries in SSA. Some of the traditional knowledge relevant to disease transmission and control may form basis for experimentation, validation, development and application of appropriate medical biotechnologies for cheap, low tech disease control strategies and healthy living   through a number of ethnobotanicals medicines, such as Occimum basilicum popularly called holy basil and in Kom language known as afuaih toh by many ethnicities of the Tikar in Ghana, Uganda, Gabon,  parts of Kenya and Tanzania, Equitorial Guinea, Ethiopia, and Madagascar, who believe that the aromatic smell it emits dispels  not only evil spirits but certain diseases such as HIV, Ebola and disease vectors. Such indigenous knowledge and science, with simple skills and familiarity, applied as an innovative approach to hygiene, medical challenges and disease control. Understand the practices, and see how to introduce interventions (incremental interventions), with existing indigenous knowledge enhanced with present science and technology, which you see can be applied to resolving present and possible outbreaks like Ebola. Generally called Macepo, tribes in Bukuru in northern Nigeria often used it to preserve dead bodies in remote villages where neither hospital nor morgue exist for days pending burial. Could scientific attention validate the use of African indigenous knowledge in Ebola prevention or future emerging diseases so that Africans can carry out safe burials within the context of their culture without risk of disease spread? We noted the believe amongst most ethnic groups  regarding the use of Occimum basilicum, and leaf powder of some indigenous plants as a preservative for corpse or crops and insect repellent.This could serve as excellent platforms for mitigation and control of outbreaks such as Ebola.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Can We Exploit and Adapt Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno -Botanicals for a Healthy Living in the Face of Emerging Diseases Like Ebola in Africa
AU  - Kenneth Anchang Yongabi
AU  - Laura. DeLuca
AU  - Keto Mshigeni
AU  - Suki K. K. Mwendwa
AU  - Alex Dudley
AU  - Francisca Nambu Njuakom
Y1  - 2015/02/15
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15
T2  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
JF  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
JO  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
SP  - 24
EP  - 28
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8133
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.s.2015030101.15
AB  - In this essay, we attempted to catalogue and describe African indigenous knowledge, in contributing to sustainable health development in Sub Saharan Africa. In the face of poverty and threats of diseases such as ebola.We also describe how biotechnology can enhance cultural mechanism for improved health care. A snap shot of certain cultural habits that promote disease dissemination that would have to be modified is described. This report is basically a descriptive essay and partly based on a survey and collection of indigenous practices in Cameroon, and some cultures across countries in SSA. Some of the traditional knowledge relevant to disease transmission and control may form basis for experimentation, validation, development and application of appropriate medical biotechnologies for cheap, low tech disease control strategies and healthy living   through a number of ethnobotanicals medicines, such as Occimum basilicum popularly called holy basil and in Kom language known as afuaih toh by many ethnicities of the Tikar in Ghana, Uganda, Gabon,  parts of Kenya and Tanzania, Equitorial Guinea, Ethiopia, and Madagascar, who believe that the aromatic smell it emits dispels  not only evil spirits but certain diseases such as HIV, Ebola and disease vectors. Such indigenous knowledge and science, with simple skills and familiarity, applied as an innovative approach to hygiene, medical challenges and disease control. Understand the practices, and see how to introduce interventions (incremental interventions), with existing indigenous knowledge enhanced with present science and technology, which you see can be applied to resolving present and possible outbreaks like Ebola. Generally called Macepo, tribes in Bukuru in northern Nigeria often used it to preserve dead bodies in remote villages where neither hospital nor morgue exist for days pending burial. Could scientific attention validate the use of African indigenous knowledge in Ebola prevention or future emerging diseases so that Africans can carry out safe burials within the context of their culture without risk of disease spread? We noted the believe amongst most ethnic groups  regarding the use of Occimum basilicum, and leaf powder of some indigenous plants as a preservative for corpse or crops and insect repellent.This could serve as excellent platforms for mitigation and control of outbreaks such as Ebola.
VL  - 3
IS  - 1-1
ER  -

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