Ailments and application of pleurotus tuber-regium (ptr) among indigenes of two regions in Ghana

Abstract

In West Africa, Pleurotus tuber-regium (PTR) is considered a delicacy and its fruitbodies as well as its sclerotia serve as valuable ingredients in the preparation of soups. Traditionally in Ghana, however, Pleurotus tuber-regium (PTR) is known to possess medicinal values and have been used by traditional herbal doctors to cure illnesses such as underweight in babies, asthma and high blood pressure among others. A survey was carried out in the Volta and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana to gather information on local knowledge and its utilization. Structured questionnaires were administered to two hundred households from ten villages in each region. Analysis of the survey revealed that eleven and twelve different ailments and their modes of application were noted in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions respectively. Some of the aliments named in the Volta Region were Heart burn (20%), Stomach ulcer (1%) and Asthma (1%) among others, whilst in the Brong Ahafo, breast cancer (4%), High blood pressure (4%), Heartburn (1%) etc. were named. It was also observed that despite the fact that traditionalist from both regions use the sclerotia for the same ailment; their mode of application was different. The main respondents for this information were the elderly within the age group 61 to 70 years. Evaluation of the potency of the fruitbody as well as the sclerotia of this fungus is recommended