Original Research

The concept of ’Musa-pelo and the medicinal use of shrubby legumes (Fabaceae) in Lesotho

A. Moteetee, B-E. van Wyk
Bothalia | Vol 37, No 1 | a304 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v37i1.304 | © 2007 A. Moteetee, B-E. van Wyk | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 15 August 2007 | Published: 18 August 2007

About the author(s)

A. Moteetee, Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
B-E. van Wyk, Corresponding author, South Africa

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Abstract

In the Kingdom of Lesotho, 20 plant species are commonly known as  'Musa-pelo. The term literally means ‘the one who brings back or tums around the heart’.  'Musa-pelo is traditionally used as a sedative and is given as a first aid treatment to bereaved people who are under severe psychological duress or stress. Of the 20 species known as  'Musa-pelo, 17 belong to nine genera of the Fabaceae  (Argyrolobium, Crotalaria, Indigofera, Lessertia, Lotononis, Melolobium, Sutherlandia, Tephrosia and  Trifolium). The three remaining species namely Cleome monophylla, Heliophila carnosa and  Cysticapnos pruinosa, belong to the families Capparaceae, Brassicaceae and Fumariaceae, respectively. In this paper, the concept of 'Musa-pelo in traditional medicine is explored.


Keywords

adaptogen; bitter tonic; Fabaceae; immune stimulant; sedative; traditional medicine

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Crossref Citations

1. Medicinal plants used in Lesotho for treatment of reproductive and post reproductive problems
A. Moteetee, L. Seleteng Kose
Journal of Ethnopharmacology  vol: 194  first page: 827  year: 2016  
doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.10.062