title: An ethnobotanical study of antimalarial plants in Togo Maritime Region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malaria continues to be of great concern in Togo, as it accounts for high mortality rates, principally in children. Although plant-based medicines are the only means in major malarious regions of the country, still very little is known about the medicinal plants and medical practices of the indigenous people.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to document the indigenous medicinal plant utilization for the management of malaria and related symptoms in Togo Maritime Region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty Traditional Healers (TH) were selected with the help leaders of Togolese Traditional Healers Associations and information on their knowledge on the use of plants for malaria therapeutic purposes was gathered using a semi-structured interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After enquiries, 52 plant species belonging to 49 genera and 29 families were recorded. The most represented families were Rubiaceae and Rutaceae with four species each. Traditional healers agreed more in the treatment of malaria (ICF=0.70), fever (ICF=0.33) and anemia (ICF=0.20). For the treatment of malaria, 38.46% (20/52) of the species cited in the study were of high fidelity level (FL=100%). The leaves (58.22%), leafy stem (33.78%) and fruits (8.52%) were the most used parts in concoctions. The main mode of preparation was decoction (69%) and the administration was essentially by oral route (79%) and body-bath (14%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The issue of the study showed that Togo Maritime Region TH have a good knowledge of antimalarial plants. However the study must be extend to the whole country to lead to innovative strategies in malaria control. Such results could be a starting point for in vitro antimalarial screenings.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche et de Formation sur les Plantes médicinales (CERFOPLAM), Université de Lomé, Togo.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koudouvo
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Karou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kokou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Essien
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aklikokou
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Glitho
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simpore
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanogo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gbeassor
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials; D006801:Humans; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000145:classification*; D014037:Togo
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials