An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Babungo, Northwest Region, Cameroon

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4678923
AutoresDavid J Simbo
Ano2010
Volume6
Fascículo1
Páginas8-0
Data de publicação2010-12-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1746-4269 • E-ISSN: 1746-4269
EditoraSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/1746-4269-6-8
PMID20156356
PMCIDPMC2843657
OpenAlexW2129124113
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas30
Referências citadas18

Background An ethnobotanical survey was undertaken to record information on medicinal plants from traditional medical practitioners in Babungo and to identify the medicinal plants used for treating diseases. Methods Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMP's) who were the main informants were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and open-ended conversations. Field trips were made to the sites where TMP's harvest plants. Results The survey identified and recorded 107 plants species from 54 plant families, 98 genera used for treating diseases in Babungo. The Asteraceae was the most represented plant family while herbs made up 57% of the total medicinal plants used. The leaf was the most commonly used plant part while concoction and decoction were the most common method of traditional drug preparation. Most medicinal plants (72%) are harvested from the wild and 45% of these have other non medicinal uses. Knowledge of the use of plants as medicines remains mostly with the older generation with few youth showing an interest. Conclusions A divers number of plants species are used for treating different diseases in Babungo. In addition to their use as medicines, a large number of plants have other non medicinal uses. The youth should be encouraged to learn the traditional medicinal knowledge to preserve it from being lost with the older generation

Agroforestry · Asteraceae · Biodiversity · Biology · Botany · Ethnobotany · Geography · Medicinal plants · Plant species · Traditional knowledge · Traditional medicine · African Botany and Ecology Studies · Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies · Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Agriculture · Medicine · Natural product bioactivities and synthesis · Ecology