Ethnobotanique des plantes médicinales anti hémorroïdaires des marchés et villages du Centre et du Littoral Cameroun

Abstract

Objective: There is very little data available on anti-hemorrhoidal plants in Africa. The aim is to promote the use of herbal medicine plants in the treatment of hemorrhoidal diseases. Methodology and results: Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted with traditional healers in villages and markets of the Centre and Littoral regions. A dendrogram was produced using the Relative Frequencies (RFs) and the Informants Consensus Factors (ICFs) of species. A total of 60 medicinal plant species were recorded including 45 woody and 15 herbaceous. They are distributed in 41 families and the most represented is that of Fabaceae. These species, most of which are endemic, are rich in phenolic compounds and are used in association for the preparation of 42 recipes in which barks are the most requested plant organs. A water decoction and a drink taken twice a day added to a sit bath once a day were the preparation and administration modes of these receipts respectively. No species has reached the average value of consensus (0.5) and the average RF (50%). Piper umbellatum, Baillonella toxisperma, Antrocaryon klaineanum, Irvingia gabonensis, Cylicodiscus gabonensis, Mangifera indica, Pycnanthus angolensis, Morinda lucida, Capsicum frutescens, Myrianthus arboreus and Elaeis guineensis are the species that have achieved an ICF ≥ 0.10 and a RF ≥ 10%. Conclusion and application of results: The Cameroonian flora is rich in anti hemorrhoidal medicinal plant species and their reduced cost could be an alternative in the fight against poverty.