Table 3.
Most frequently mentioned and used medicinal plant species by our study group.
| Species (voucher number) |
Family | Local name (Sranantongo) |
Plant part | Uses | Times cited (%) | Used (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gossypium barbadense
(TVA 4921) |
Malvaceae | Redi katoen, red cotton | Leaves | Urinary tract problems, regulate menstruation, cleanse uterus, hypertension | 58 (21) | 37 (14) |
|
| ||||||
|
Phyllanthus amarus
(TVA 4870) |
Phyllanthaceae | Fini bita | Entire plant | Cleanse uterus, regulate menstruation, diabetes, hypertension | 48 (18) | 34 (13) |
|
| ||||||
|
Quassia amara
(TVA 4829) |
Simaroubaceae | Kwasibita | Wood | Fever, aphrodisiac, malaria, bitter tonic | 48 (18) | 32 (12) |
|
| ||||||
|
Azadirachta indica
(TVA 5539) |
Meliaceae | Neem | Leaves | Hypertension, diabetes, skin problems, malaria | 39 (14) | 19 (7) |
|
| ||||||
|
Morinda citrifolia
(TVA 4761) |
Rubiaceae | Noni | Fruit | Cancer, diabetes, HIV, skin problems | 36 (13) | 19 (7) |
|
| ||||||
|
Cymbopogon citratus
(TVA 4839) |
Poaceae | Citroengras, lemongrass | Leaves | Cold, fever, cough, flu | 35 (13) | 20 (7) |
|
| ||||||
|
Momordica charantia
(TVA 5494) |
Cucurbitaceae | Sopropo (wild) | Entire plant | Diabetes, hypertension, cleanse uterus, stomach problems | 31 (11) | 16 (6) |
|
| ||||||
| Allium sativum | Alliaceae | Knoflook, garlic | Bulb | Hypertension, diabetes, fever, spiritual problems | 29 (11) | 19 (7) |
|
| ||||||
| — | — | Bita (bitter tonics) | Various species | Cleanse uterus, regulate menstruation | 29 (11) | 17 (6) |
|
| ||||||
|
Peperomia pellucida
(TVA 4851) |
Piperaceae | Konsaka wiwiri | Entire plant | Eye infection, fever, asthma, nausea | 20 (7) | 12 (4) |
|
| ||||||
| Cocos nucifera | Arecaceae | Kokosnoot, coconut | Fruitshell, coconut milk, oil | Hypertension, skin problems, hair oil, cold, diarrhea | 17 (6) | 10 (4) |
|
| ||||||
|
Eugenia uniflora
(TVA 5330) |
Myrtaceae | Monkimonki kersi | Leaves | Cold, headache, sore throat, anaemia, fever | 17 (6) | 8 (3) |
|
| ||||||
|
Annona muricata
(TVA 5150) |
Annonaceae | Zuurzak | Leaves | Sleeplessness, depression, anxiety, heart problems | 16 (6) | 9 (3) |
|
| ||||||
|
Scoparia dulcis
(TVA 4966) |
Scrophulariaceae | Sisibi wiwiri | Entire plant | Sore throat, fever, toothache, hypertension, laxative, hepatitis | 16 (6) | 9 (3) |
|
| ||||||
| Aloe vera | Asphodelaceae | Aloe vera | Leaves | Wounds, skin infections, rash, hair problems, malaria, diabetes | 13 (5) | 8 (3) |
|
| ||||||
|
Psidium guajava
(TVA 5129) |
Myrtaceae | Goyave | Fruit, leaves | Diarrhea, dysentery, fever, cold, stomach pains, cleanse uterus | 13 (5) | 6 (2) |
|
| ||||||
| Saccharum officinarum | Poaceae | Suikerriet, ingi tjen, melasse | Stem, leaves, syrup, juice | Cold, cough, flu, asthma, skin infection, spiritual problems | 12 (4) | 11 (4) |
|
| ||||||
|
Citrus aurantifolia
(TVA 5132) |
Rutaceae | Lemmetje | Fruit | Cold, cough, flu, asthma, dysentery, skin infections | 12 (4) | 10 (4) |
|
| ||||||
| — | — | Bitter vegetables | Various species | Health promotion, anaemia, diabetes, migraine, stress | 12 (4) | 7 (3) |
|
| ||||||
| — | Herbal bath | Various species | Spiritual problems, good luck | 12 (4) | 7 (3) | |