Browsing by Author "Adu-Gyamfi, A."
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Item Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants from Ghana; confirmation of ethnobotanical uses, and review of biological and toxicological studies on medicinal plants used in Apra Hills Sacred Grove(Journal of Herbal Medicine, 2018-12) Adeniyi, A.; Asase, A.; Ekpe, P.K.; Asitoakor, B.K.; Adu-Gyamfi, A.; Avekor, P.Y.The majority of human populations in developing countries rely on traditional medicines but the practice of traditional medicine is not the same across the world. In this study, the authors investigated traditional medicinal uses of plants by the communities living around Apra Hills Sacred Grove, in southern Ghana. A total of 75 households in three communities, namely, Akrampa, Apra and Loye, living in the study area were interviewed about the plants they used for the management of their common human ailments. Data collection was achieved after obtaining prior-informed consent, and using a semi-structured questionnaire. Botanical voucher specimens of the plants reported as being used were collected following standard ethnobotanical practice. A total of 31 species of plants belonging to16 families were reported as being used in the management and treatment of diseases. Approximately 65% of the plants were collected from degraded areas outside the protected area of the grove whereas 35% were obtained from inside the protected area of grove (wild). The majority (81%) of the plants reported were non-cultivated plants while 19% were semi-cultivated plants, and none were cultivated. Leaves formed a major component (57%) of the plant materials being used and most of the herbal remedies were prepared by boiling and the decoctions drunk. The results of the study have also confirmed the ethnobotanical uses of the plants as well as highlighted “new use reports”. The study has confirmed importance of degraded areas as a source of medicinal plants for indigenous communities and that a high proportion of non-cultivated plants is used for such medicines. Plants in need of further investigations based on a survey of the available literature on their ethnobotanical use, biological activity and toxicological studies have been highlighted.Item Spatio-temporal variations in seaweed diversity and abundance of selected coastal areas in Ghana(Regional Studies in Marine Science, 2021) Akrong, M.O.; Anning, A.K.; Addico, G.N.D.; deGraft-Johnson, K.A.A.; Adu-Gyamfi, A.; Ale, M.; Meyer, A.S.The coast of Ghana is considered the most seaweed-endowed region in West Africa, although information on the local spatial and temporal distributions and abundance of seaweed species is limited. In this study, seaweed species were sampled monthly from five coastal sites in the Central (Elmina, Komenda, Mumford) and Western (Shama and Takoradi Fisheries) Regions of Ghana during low tides from 2017 to 2019 to determine their diversity and abundance (biomass). Sampling was conducted using two (2) transect lines and quadrats (each of dimension 0.25 m2) at each site. Thirtyfive (35) taxa were identified at the five sites: 15 belonging to Rhodophyta, 11 to Chlorophyta and 9 to Phaeophyta. The Komenda site recorded the highest species diversity index of 2.06 whereas the Takoradi Fisheries had the lowest value of 0.68. Ulva fasciata, Padina durvillaei, Sargassum vulgare, Hydropuntia dentata and Hypnea musciformis were the most dominant species at the sites. A mean monthly biomass of 2.19 g dry wt m−2 was recorded for all five sites during the study period, with the greatest recorded at Takoradi Fisheries (3.53 dry wt m−2) and the least at Komenda (1.10 g dry wt m−2). The greatest biomass of the highly economic important species, H. musciformis, was recorded at Shama. The highest mean monthly biomass was recorded between August and October while the least was observed from December to February. Results from this study indicate considerable spatial and temporal variability in the diversity and abundance of seaweeds across the studied sites. These findings provide important baseline information for conservation and utilization of seaweeds, particularly their cultivation along the Ghanaian coastal waters as an alternate source of livelihood for the local communities.