Ethnobotanical uses of Ximenia americana L. (mumpeke) among rural communities in south Angola: a survey.

The study provides an insight into the cosmetic and medicinal importance of Ximenia americana - locally known as mumpeke - in South Angola. In ethnobotanical literature many traditional uses are reported for this species in different tropical countries, especially as a source of medical remedies. Some folk uses appear to be supported by published chemical and pharmacological data. Yet, in Angola information about traditional uses of plants is very poor and this is the case also with X. americana. In the years 2009 and 2010 a field investigation was carried out in four rural communities in the southern part of the country, in order to gather information on traditional uses of this species. Sixty-eight informants were interviewed and 48 (71%) reported the use of X. americana. A total of 210 citations were recorded for 13 different uses: 9 medicinal (84 citations), 3 cosmetic (125 citations) and 1 veterinary (1 citation). In the investigated area, the most relevant traditional use of X. americana resulted to be direct application of the oil extracted from seeds as a cosmetic for body and hair care and as a medicinal remedy to prevent varicose veins. Minor medicinal and veterinary uses of leaves were also recorded. The informants did not report any local use of other plant parts (e.g. bark, roots), neither did they mention the use of the plant as a food source. Quantitative analyses performed on the collected data showed that the use of mumpeke oil both as a cosmetic (for body and hair care) and as a medical remedy to prevent varicose veins is widely and homogenously distributed within the communities (UE = 1). The category 'cosmetic uses' showed also the higher use diversity index (UD = 0.59). Distribution of knowledge among both informants and communities was also analyzed, showing that knowledge about local uses of this plant is widespread among the four communities, in both genders and all age groups. No statistically significant difference could be picked out in the number of uses cited by the informants grouped either for gender or for age. Yet, when comparing the distribution of citations with Hurlbert’s PIE, women and >40 yrs informants showed a significantly higher use diversity. The distribution of knowledge among communities is also analyzed and discussed. Local traditional technique of oil extraction is also described, based on direct observation in the investigated communities. Mumpeke oil is a potential economic resource for local communities and could provide important opportunities in increasing family income.