Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal fern species used by communities bordering Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve, Western Uganda.

Abstract

Introduction Across the globe, traditional medicine, particularly herbal remedies, is a cornerstone of healthcare. While the medicinal uses of ferns are widely recognised globally, their therapeutic potential in Uganda remains significantly underexplored compared to higher plants. This limited research creates critical gap in our understanding of the medicinal capacities of ferns, leading to their neglect in drug development. The main aim of this study therefore was to document the medicinal fern species and their uses in communities bordering Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve (KCFR). Methods An ethnobotanical survey was conducted for three months (October, November, and December), 2024 in twenty villages bordering Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve (KCFR) in Kyamuhunga. The study utilized a semi structured questionnaire and face to face interviews with 71 key informants to collect data on use of ferns in herbal medicine. The questionnaire data was analysed using various ethnobotanical indices, including Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use Value (UV), Relative Importance (RI), Fidelity Level (FL), and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). Results ARTICLE IN PRESS Six fern species were documented for use in herbal medicine by communities around KCFR, and Pteridium capense was the most cited species. The use value (UV) index was highest for P. capense (0.72). The informant consensus factor (ICF) was highest for musculoskeletal illnesses (1.00), and the fidelity level (FL) was highest for Hypolepis sparsisora for treating burns (100%). Fronds were the most used part of the ferns in herbal medicine (76.06%), and dermal (smearing and rubbing) was the most common route of administration (57.75%). . Conclusions Medicinal ferns are an important component of traditional herbal medicine in communities bordering KCFR. The study documented different medicinal fern species for treating various ailments in communities bordering KCFR. Pteridium capense was the most frequently cited species, used to treat various illnesses. These findings highlight the significant ethnobotanical knowledge of the local communities and suggest that further research into the pharmacological properties of these fern species, especially P. capense, is warranted. Further research should characterize and elucidate bioactive compounds responsible for such therapeutic values.