The Role of Botanic Gardens in Conservation of Medicinal Plant Species: A Case Study of Entebbe Bontanic Gardens

Biodiversity (main)

Published: October 21, 2014, 11:20 am

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Biodiversity (main) Ecology (main) Society & Environment (main) Health (main)

Entebbe Botanic Gardens

A botanic garden is an institution holding documented collections of living plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, display and education. A botanic garden has been defined as a garden containing scientifically ordered and maintained collections of plants, usually documented and labeled, and open to the public for the purposes of recreation, education and research.

Medicinal plant species are those that provide people with medicines to prevent diseases, maintain health or cure ailment. Therefore medicinal plants are important in the well being of people yet most people are not aware about these species or their medicinal value. Examples of these plants include Aloe vera, Hydnocarpus kurzii, Azadirachta indica and many others.

Medicinal plant species are of great value to mankind and other animals but not much emphasis is laid on their conservation especially ex-situ conservation given their ever dwindling natural habitats (Habitat). Conservation of medicinal plants involves the sustainable utilization (Sustainability) of medicinal plant resources that is in such a way that they satisfy the needs of today’s generation without hindering the ability of tomorrow’s generations to satisfy their own needs. This can easily be simplified as; “when you are eating today, remember to leave some for those who will be there tomorrow”

These species are mostly being threatened by harvesting practices incompatible with their survival or habitat degradation due to land use changes in favor of the development paradigm. The ever dwindling natural habitats of these medicinal plants have left only a choice of ex-situ conservation. This ex-situ conservation falls under the programmes of institutions such as botanic gardens that are encouraged by the Convention on Biological Diversity framework

Given that botanic gardens all over the world have always been closely linked to ex-situ conservation of medicinal plants, this review will examine the history of botanic gardens and their role in conservation of medicinal plants, the different strategies used in conservation of medicinal plants and a case study of the Entebbe Botanic Gardens in Uganda.

History of Botanic Gardens and their Role in Conservation of Medicinal Plants

Botanic gardens have in Western tradition been intimately involved in the cultivation of medicinal plants since their earliest beginnings. The first botanic gardens were medicinal or herbal gardens attached to faculties or schools of medicine created for provision of medicinal plants for study by students and for actual production of drugs.

The history of these botanic gardens is closely linked to the history of botany its self. This means that these gardens have for a long time been involved in plant cultivation and research programmes involving different species of flora. In particular, these botanic gardens have a long history of involvement with medicinal plants and with movements of other species of plants around the globe.

In the 16^th century, Italian Botanic Gardens of Pisa, Padua and Florence, the later still called today the Giardino dei Semplici (garden of simples), were medicinal gardens attached to faculties or schools. There is also a long link between medicine and the botanic gardens in Asia. At the famous cultural site of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka, dating back to the fifth century AD, excavation has revealed the well preserved remains of very extensive, formally laid out, pleasure gardens, and historic records indicate that there was once a garden for medicinal plants.

The role of Botanic Gardens in conservation of medicinal plants can further be traced to the 18^th century botanic gardens of the Jardin des Apothicaires which grew medicinal plants for the chests of doctors of ships sailing from the port and would in turn receive new plants, medicinal and others from abroad following a Royal Edicit signed at Versailles requiring captains and merchant mariners of Nantes to bring back all new plants found on their trips to foreign countries and the French colonies of America.

In the 1970s, botanic gardens started putting allot of effort into ex-situ conservation of medicinal plants. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1973 and major botanic gardens at the time such as the Kew Botanical Gardens played a major scientific and advisory role in conservation of medicinal plant species that were protected by the convention at the time. The Botanic Garden Conservation Secretariat (BGCS) was then established by theWorld Conservation Union (IUCN) (World Conservation Union (IUCN)) in 1987 with the aim of coordinating the plant conservation efforts of botanic gardens around the World. It maintains a data base of rare and endangered species that are conserved and protected in botanic gardens around the Globe. The above mentioned facts are a reminder of the close relationship that existed between botanic gardens and conservation of medicinal plants. In fact Botanic Gardens and conservation of medicinal plants are very closely and inevitably linked throughout time.

For centuries, botanical gardens have served as centers of aesthetic plant display, research of plant collections, and conservation of global plant species. Saikat Basu, own work

The Role Botanic Gardens Play in Conservation of Medicinal Plants Today

Hundreds of millions of people, mostly in developing countries, derive a significant part of their subsistence needs including income from gathered plant and animal products. These products can be aesthetic, medicinal or commercial. It has been estimated that 35000-70000 species of plants have been harvested and used at one time or another for medicinal purposes. Harvesting incompatible with the natural re-population processes of individuals of medicinal plant species can lead to extinction or loss of Bio-diversity. This is where botanic gardens come in as ex-situ conservation institutions to preserve and protect these plants outside their natural habitats. In today’s world, many thousands of species of tropical flora are used in medicine yet our scientific knowledge that is relevant to sustainable utilization of these plants is limited. Furthermore, our knowledge to propagate and cultivate these medicinal plants is also equally substandard. This is where the role of botanic gardens in conservation (Biodiversity Glossary) of medicinal plants must be stressed as they have the capability to propagate and cultivate these plants. With the increased realization that some wild species are being over-exploited and their habitats dwindling, a number of agencies are recommending that wild species be brought into ex-situ conservation systems.Clearly, botanic gardens, with their expertise in gardening and other botanical disciplines, can often play useful roles in helping to select and develop varieties for cultivation, and in undertaking research on techniques for propagation and cultivation. The aim is to produce sustainability in supply of plant material for the manufacture of medicines.

Botanical gardens also play a role in helping to develop back-up facilities for ex situ conservation of threatened medicinal plants. This could be through providing expertise to land-holding agencies or individuals for the development of small nurseries at each in-situ site, so as to propagate the species and reintroduce them into nature where populations are low. Possibly, Botanic Gardens could also assist through the development of germplasm banks such as seed collections, though medicinal plants are not high on the list of ex-situ conservation programmes of this type at present.

Botanic gardens play a vital role in conservation of medicinal plants since they increase the level of awareness about medicinal plants and their values on top of conducting ex-situ cultivation programmes and maintaining collections of these plant species.

A Case Study of Entebbe Botanic Gardens and their Role in Conservation of Medicinal Plants

Entebbe Botanic Gardens are situated on the Northern shores of Lake Victoria (long. 32º29'E., at. 0º04' N.). They receive an average annual rainfall of 1,626 mm and lie at 1,134 m above sea-level. The garden lies within the township of Entebbe in the southern part of Uganda and 33.80 kilometers from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The gardens which cover an area of 100.57 acres are said to have an estimate of over 150 plant species of medicinal value. The Entebbe Botanic Gardens play a vital role in the conservation of these plant species.

Map Showing Location and Site of Entebbe Municipality and the Entebbe Botanic Gardens

Source: NASA

The Entebbe Botanic Gardens are the only nationally recognized botanic gardens in Uganda. They were created in the year 1898 after the first British colonialists came to Uganda. The aim was to maintain collections of crops important in agricultural production and other commercial uses. The botanic gardens were very active in plant introduction from many parts of the world. Crop species of foreign origin such as cocoa, coffee, tea and rubber were introduced and evaluated. Uganda's varied agro-climatic conditions offered a good opportunity for these plants to grow and they have become the main cash-crops of the country. The gardens have until recently served simply as an area for public recreation and enjoyment, with no attempt made to develop its considerable potential as a place for systematic collection of plants, centre for research and education.

It is important to note that national botanic gardens like those of Entebbe were not only created for the above mentioned purposes but also for the conservation of endangered flora as listed by the IUCN Red List (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species), International Plant Protection Convention, CITES and [[Convention on Biological Diversity] (CBD)]. The development of conservation strategy for Botanic Gardens has evolved over the past few years following a series of key events such as the 1975 and 1978 Kew conferences and the Las Palmas conferences on botanic gardens and the conservation strategy held in 1985. One of the botanic gardens following this evolved conservation strategy is the Entebbe Botanic Gardens.

The Entebbe Botanic Gardens have always aimed at achieving the following objectives;

• To integrate conservation activities with agricultural and genetic resources development.
• To enhance the educational and recreational potential of the gardens through the development of facilities and services that will benefit both residents and tourists alike.
• To encourage and enhance public involvement in the work of the botanic garden and extension of the work of the botanic garden into the community.
• To undertake screening of native plants for utility and possible economic production.
• To put up a scheme to establish collaboration with relevant institutions in the development and production of native wild plant species of economic and educational value for example medicinal plants, wild fruits, fibers, spices, fuel-wood and forage crops.
• To establish Ethno-Botanical Gardens, if possible in each district.

The Entebbe Botanic Gardens (EBG) together with Uganda National Gene Bank (UNGB) are under the Plant Genetic Resources Centre (PGRC) which is an institution under the National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL) of theNational Agricultural Research Organization (NARO).

The Entebbe Botanic Gardens employs a number of different strategies in conservation of medicinal plants including in-situ conservation and re-introduction programmes, biotechnology and gene banks, education and sensitization programmes, research programmes and ex-situ conservation.

The Different Medicinal Plants in Entebbe Botanic Gardens

The Entebbe Botanic Gardens are said to be an ex-situ conservation site for more than 122 medicinal plant species. The most commonly known medicinal plant species in these botanic gardens include Aloe vera, Prunus africana, Bidens pilosa, Cannabis sativa and Catha edulis among others.

Table Showing the Medicinal plants in the Entebbe Botanic Gardens

	Family/species name	Source	IUCN conservation status
	ACANTHACEAE
1	Acanthus pubescens	Uganda	Not evaluated
2	Asystasia schimperi	Uganda	Not evaluated
3	Brillantaisia mahonia	Uganda	Not evaluated
4	Justicia betonica	Uganda	Not evaluated
	AMARANTHACEAE
5	Aerva lanata	Uganda	Not evaluated
6	Celosia trigyna	Uganda	Not evaluated
	ANACARDIACEAE
7	Anacardium occidentale	Tropical America	Not evaluated
8	Spondias lutea	Tropical America	Not evaluated
	APOCYNACEAE
9	Funtumia africana	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
10	Plumeria rubra	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
11	Rauvolfia vomitoria	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
12	Vinca rosea	North America	Not evaluated
	ARALIACEAE
13	Schefflera actinophylla	New Guinea	Not evaluated
14	Schefflera polysciadia
15	Steganotaenia araliaceae	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	ASCLEPIADACEAE
16	Asclepias semilunata	Uganda	Not evaluated
	BIGNONIACEAE
17	Kigelia moosa	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	BISCHOFIACEAE
18	Bischofia javanica	Tropical Asia	Not evaluated
	BOMBACACEAE
19	Adansonia digitata	East Africa, Sudan	Not evaluated
20	Ceiba petandra	Tropical Asia	Not evaluated
21	Durio zibethinus	Malaysia	Not evaluated
	CANNABACEAE
22	Cannabis sativa	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	CAPPARIDACEAE
23	Cleome gynandra	Uganda	Not evaluated
	CARYOPHYLACEAE
24	Drymaria cordata	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	CELASTRACEAE
25	Catha edulis	Tropical Africa	Lower Risk/least concern
	CHENOPODIACEAE
26	Chenopodium opulifolium	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	COMBRETACEAE
27	Combretum paniculata	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	COMMELINACEAE
28	Zebrina purpussii	Uganda	Not evaluated
29	Commelina bengalensis	Uganda	Not evaluated
	COMPOSITAE
30	Ageratum conyzoides	Uganda	Not evaluated
31	Aspilia africana	Uganda	Not evaluated
32	Bidens pilosa	Uganda	Not evaluated
33	Crassocephalum sp	Uganda	Not evaluated
34	Dichrocephala integrifolia	Uganda	Not evaluated
35	Eriangea tomentosa	Uganda	Not evaluated
36	Microglossa angolensis	Uganda	Not evaluated
37	Senecio discifolius	Uganda	Not evaluated
38	Sigesbeckia orientalis	Uganda	Not evaluated
39	Solanecio cydonifolius	Uganda	Not evaluated
40	Solanecio mannii	Uganda	Not evaluated
41	Tagetes minuta	Uganda	Not evaluated
42	Vemonia amygdalina	Uganda	Not evaluated
	CONVOLULACEAE
43	Hewittia sublobata	Uganda	Not evaluated
	CRASSULACEAE
44	Kalanchoe pinnata	Uganda	Not evaluated
	CRUCIFERAE
45	Cardamine trichocarpa	Uganda	Not evaluated
	CUCURBITACEAE
46	Cucurbita maxima	Uganda	Not evaluated
47	Momordica foetida	Uganda	Not evaluated
	DIOSCOREACEAE
48	Dioscorea alata	Uganda	Not evaluated
	DRACAENACEAE
49	Dracaena steudneri	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
50	Dracaena fragrans	Tropical Africa
	EUPHOBIACEAE
51	Bridelia micrantha	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
52	Croton megalocarpus	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
53	Euphorbia heterophylla	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
54	Euphorbia hirta	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
55	Euphorbia tirucalli	Uganda	Least Concern
56	Jestropha curcas	Tropical America	Not evaluated
57	Jatropha multifida	America	Not evaluated
58	Phyllanthus reticulatius	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
59	Ricinus communis	Uganda	Not evaluated
80	Sapium ellypticum	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
81	Tragia benthami	Uganda	Not evaluated
	FLACOURTIACEAE
82	Hydnocarpus anthelimintica	Siam	Not evaluated
83	Hydnocarpus petandra	India	Not evaluated
	GRAMINEAE
84	Digitaria abyssinica	Uganda	Not evaluated
85	Imperata cylindrica	Uganda	Not evaluated
	LABITAE
86	Hoslundia opposita	Uganda	Not evaluated
87	Osimum suave	Uganda	Not evaluated
88	Tetradena riparia	Uganda	Not evaluated
	LAURACEAE
89	Cinnamomum camphora	China	Not evaluated
	LEGUMINACEAE
90	Acacia camphylacantha	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
91	Acacia hockki	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
92	Baikiaea insignis	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
93	Cassia alata	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
94	Cassia fistula	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
95	Cassia spectabilis	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
96	Craibia elliotii	Uganda	Not evaluated
97	Cynometra alexandri	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
98	Desmodium mauritianm	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
99	Erythrina abyssinica	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
100	Erythrophleum suaveolens	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
101	Indigofera spicata	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
102	Leucaena glauca	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
103	Myroxylon balsamum	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
104	Pseudanthistiria hookeri	South America	Not evaluated
105	Saraca indica	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	LILIACEAE
106	Glorisa suberba	Uganda	Not evaluated
	LOGANIACEAE
107	Anthocleista vogeliplanchon	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	MALLACEAE
108	Albutilon mauritianum	Uganda	Not evaluated
109	Albutilon zanzibaricum	Uganda	Not evaluated
110	Azanza barckeana	East Africa	Not evaluated
111	Sida cordifolia	0	Not evaluated
	MELIACEAE
112	Melia dubias	Asia	Not evaluated
113	Azadirachta indica	Tropical Asia
114	Melia azedarach	Asia	Not evaluated
	MORACEAE
115	Artocarpus heterophyllus	Tropical Asia	Not evaluated
116	Milicia excelsa	Tropical Africa	Lower Risk/ near threatened
	MUSACEAE
117	Ensete ventricossum	Tropics	Not evaluated
	MYRTACEAE
118	Amomis caryophyllata	America	Not evaluated
119	Callistemon salignus	Australia	Not evaluated
120	Eugenia uniflora	Australia	Not evaluated
121	Eucalyptus maideni	Australia	Not evaluated
122	Pimenta officinalis	Tropical America	Not evaluated
	OXALIDACEAE
123	Biophylum petersianum	Uganda	Not evaluated
	PALMAE
124	Areca catechu	Tropical Asia	Not evaluated
	PHYTOLACACEAE
125	Phytolacca dodecandra	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	PEDALIACEAE
126	Sesamum angolensis	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	PLANTAGINACEAE
127	Plantago palmata	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	PLUMBAGINACEAE
128	Plumbago zeylanica	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	POLYGONACEAE
129	Oxygonum sinuatum	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	PORTULACACEAE
130	Portulaca oleracea	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	RANUNCULACEAE
131	Clemantis hirsuta	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	ROSACEAE
132	Prunus africana	Tropical Africa	Vulnerable
	RUBIACEAE
133	Nauclea latifolia	West Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
134	Pentas zanzibarica	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
135	Rubia cordifolia	West Africa	Not evaluated
	RUTACEAE
136	Citrus medica	Southeast Asia	Not evaluated
137	Teclea nobilis	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	SIMAROUBACEAE
138	Harrisonia abyssinica	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	SOLANACEAE
139	Capsicum frutoscens	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
140	Datura stramonium	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
141	Nicotiana tabacum	Uganda	Not evaluated
142	Solunum aculeastrum	Uganda	Not evaluated
143	Solunum camphylacanthum	Uganda	Not evaluated
144	Solanum macranthum	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
145	Solunum nigrum	Uganda	Not evaluated
146	Solunum nidiflorum	Uganda	Not evaluated
147	Philadelphia spp	Uganda	Not evaluated
	VERBENACEAE
148	Lantana camara	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
149	Priva leptostachya	Uganda	Not evaluated
150	Clerondendrum myricoides	Uganda	Not evaluated
	XANTHORRHOEACEAE
151	Aloe vera	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
	ZAMIACEAE
152	Encephalartos hildebrandtii	Uganda	Not evaluated
	ZINGIBERACEAE
153	Aframomum sanguineum	Tropical Africa	Not evaluated
154	Aframomum melegueta	TropicalAfrica	Not evaluated

Conclusion

Finally, in addition to maintaining a large collection of medicinal plants, the Entebbe Botanic Gardens have also helped in increasing the level of awareness about these species as the facility gets a considerable number of visitors every year. These guests gain considerable amount of knowledge about medicinal plant species and their conservation as the facility has educational programmes for these visitors.

Botanic gardens have always and will always be intimately linked to medicinal plant conservation and because of this, stake holders in conservation should ensure that they always have the instruments and tools to carry out their activities as this will undoubtedly promote sustainable use and conservation of these species.

Further Reading

• Akerele, O., Heywood, V. & Synge, H. (eds.) (1991). Conservation of Medicinal Plants. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, UK.
• Ashton, P, S. (1984). Botanic Gardens and Experimental Grounds. In Current Concepts in Plant Taxonomy. eds, V.H. Heywood and D.M. Moore. London and New York Academic Press, Pp. 39-48.
• Botanic Gardens Conservation Secretariat (1989). The Botanic Gardens Conservation Strategy. BGCI, Richmond, UK.
• Doroth Ouchi Ssekadde. (1994). The Entebbe Botanic Gardens, Uganda. BGC News.
• Farnsworth, N.R., Akerele, O., Heywood, V. & Soejarto, D.D. (1991). Global Importance of Medicinal Plants. In: Akerele, O., Heywood, V. & Synge, H. (eds.). Conservation of Medicinal Plants. pp 25-51. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, UK.
• Garbari, F. and Raimondo. (1986). Botanical Gardens in Italy; Their History, Scientific Role and Future. Museol .Sci. 3(1-2), Pp. 57-81.
• Heywood, V. (1991). Botanic gardens and the Conservation of Medicinal Plants. In: Akerele, O., Heywood, V. & Synge, H. (eds.) Conservation of Medicinal Plants pp.213-228. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (UK).
• Heywood, V.H. (1987). The Changing Role of Botanic Gardens and the World Conservation Strategy. eds, Bramwell, D. Hamann, O. Heywood, V. Synge, H. London and New York Academic Press. Pp. 3-18.
• Iqbal, M. (1993). International Trade in Non-wood Forest Products. An overview. – Rome, FAO.
• Majamudar, D. S. (1997). Beyond biodiversity conservation: the challenges facing the biocultural heritage of India's medicinal plants. Bangarole-24 India.
• Maundu, P. Kariuki, P. Eyog-Matig, O. (2006). Threats to Medicinal Plant Species-an African Perspective. IUCN, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI).
• Ssegawa, P. and Kasenene, M. J. 2007. Medicinal Plant Diversity and Uses in the Sango-bay Area, Southern Uganda. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume: 11. Pp 521–540.
• Synge, H. and Townsend, M. (1979). Survival or Extinction. Kew, UK: Bentham Maxon Trust. Pp. 250.
• Walter, S. (2001). Non-wood Forest Products in Africa. A Regional and National Overview. Les produits forestiers non ligneux en Afrique. UN aperçu régional et national. – Rome, FAO Forestry Department (Working Paper/Document de Travail FOPW/01/1).
• WHO, IUCN & WWF (1993). Guidelines on the Conservation of Medicinal Plants. – Gland & Geneva, Switzerland.
• Jackson, W. Peter, S. & Sutherland, Lucy A. (2000). International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation. Richmond, UK: Botanic Gardens Conservation International.

Citation

MUJUNI, N. (2014). The Role of Botanic Gardens in Conservation of Medicinal Plant Species: A Case Study of Entebbe Bontanic Gardens. Retrieved from http://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/The_Role_of_Botanic_Gardens_in_Conservation_of_Medicinal_Plant_Species:_A_Case_Study_of_Entebbe_Bontanic_Gardens