Abstract

Ethnoveterinary practices play an important role in animal health care systems in developing countries. Plant species belonging to the grass or Poaceae family are widely used as ethnoveterinary medicines (EVMs). The present study was aimed at documenting the species of the Poaceae family that are used as EVMs to treat and manage veterinary health disorders. Multiple searches on existing literature on EVMs used in Africa were conducted using online databases such as Scopus, JSTOR, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, as well as pre-electronic literature sources obtained from the university library. Ethnoveterinary uses of 40 species belonging to 26 genera of the Poaceae family are recorded. Seeds, leaves, whole plants, roots, fruits, and aerial parts are the most used parts, with their usage varying from 9.4% to 65.6%. Most of the species are used to treat gastrointestinal problems, endoparasites, retained placenta, viral infections, respiratory problems, wounds, ectoparasites, bone fractures, and polyarthritis, and are used as appetite stimulants. Species with the highest medicinal applications include Saccharum officinarum, Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon schoenanthus, Cynodon dactylon, Oryza sativa, Triticum turgidum, Cenchrus americanus, Megathyrsus maximus, Sorghum bicolor, Hordeum vulgare, and Zea mays. This review highlights the potential of Poaceae species as sources of EVM remedies.

Key words: Africa; ethnobotany; gramineae; traditional knowledge