Ethnomycological study of Termitomyces mushrooms at Judea-Lyabboroma and Katima rural in the Zambezi Region, Namibia

Abstract

In this study, face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data on the indigenous uses and traditional knowledge of Termitomyces mushrooms in Judea-Lyabboroma and Katima rural, Zambezi Region, Namibia. The results showed that Termitomyces were used in the form of powder or paste to heal diseases such as cancer and kidney problems, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), heart disease, severe diarrhea, cancer-related diseases, kidney problems and in the prevention of miscarriages. In both constituencies, the pseudorhiza for the Termitomyces mushroom was reported to be an important part that is used in healing various diseases. The results not only motivate the research team to continue finding more possible potential benefits that Termitomyces can provide but to encourage validation and pharmaceutical studies to be carried out for drug discovery on these mushrooms in order to provide conclusive results on the potential use of the Termitomyces in Namibia and beyond.