title: Ethnopharmacological survey of plants used against diabetes in Kisangani City (DR Congo).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted in Kisangani City (Democratic Republic of Congo) in order to make an inventory of plant species used in folk medicine for the management of diabetes and their different modes of preparation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five traditional practitioners from different ethnic groups were interviewed about the plants they use against diabetes in folk medicine in Kisangani. All cited plants were collected and identified at the herbarium of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one plant species were collected out of which phanerophytes predominate (18 species). Eighty-three percent of herbal remedies are prepared by aqueous decoction. Ninety-seven percents of recipes are administered to patients by oral route. All plant parts are used fresh with water as the sole solvent. Leaves are the most used parts and the treatment lasts one to two weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Herbal remedies used against diabetes in Kisangani City, DR Congo are widely administered as aqueous decoctions. Chemical and pharmacological studies of these preparations are in progress and might lead to interesting antidiabetic remedies.
authors.affiliation: Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangan, B.P. 2012, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katemo
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Mpiana
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Mbala
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Mihigo
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Ngbolua
authors.forename: D S T
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Tshibangu
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Koyange
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations