Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used as anthelmintic remedies in Gabon.
BACKGROUND
In this article, we report on an ethnobotanical survey realized at the Peyrie market in Libreville on Gabonese medicinal plants used to treat helminthiasis. While several alerts about cases of resistance to conventional anthelmintic treatments are causing to fear a public and animal health issue, the search for new sources of active compounds becomes an urgent issue. In Gabon like in many developing countries, people regularly turn to traditional medicine in case of physical ailments and/or spiritual healing therapies.


METHODS
To determine which medicinal plants are traditionally used by the populations of Libreville to fight against nematodes, medicinal plant traders were interviewed with standardized questionnaires. The surveys were conducted in the main market of Libreville. Ethnobotanical data such as frequency and percentage of families, species, administrations pathways, modes of preparations and parts of plants used were analyzed and summarized.


RESULTS
Thirty-four (34) traders were interviewed belonging to five (5) different ethnic groups. Twenty-four 24 plants used to treat intestinal, cutaneous and ocular helminthiasis were listed. The healers mainly turned towards to ligneous species. The parts of the plant used are mostly leaves and trunk bark. Most of the traditional remedies are prepared directly in water and four (4) principal routes were used for administration namely, oral, rectal, ocular and dermal.


CONCLUSIONS
This study allowed us to list anthelmintic species which will be subjected to a series of chemical and pharmacological assays.
Institut de Pharmacopée et Médecines Traditionnelles (IPHAMETRA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CENAREST), BP: 12 141 Libreville, Gabon. Electronic address: idensib@gmail.com.
Idensi
I
Bajin Ba Ndob
Institut de Pharmacopée et Médecines Traditionnelles (IPHAMETRA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CENAREST), BP: 12 141 Libreville, Gabon. Electronic address: linemengome@gmail.com.
Line Edwige
LE
Mengome
Institut de Pharmacopée et Médecines Traditionnelles (IPHAMETRA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CENAREST), BP: 12 141 Libreville, Gabon. Electronic address: henribourobou@yahoo.fr.
Henri-Paul
HP
Bourobou Bourobou
Institut de Pharmacopée et Médecines Traditionnelles (IPHAMETRA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CENAREST), BP: 12 141 Libreville, Gabon. Electronic address: lossangoyebanfora@yahoo.fr.
Yvon
Y
Lossangoye Banfora
Institut de Pharmacopée et Médecines Traditionnelles (IPHAMETRA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CENAREST), BP: 12 141 Libreville, Gabon; Gabon-Oregon Center (GOC), BP:23906 Libreville, Gabon. Electronic address: francis.bivigou@gabon-oregon.com.
Francis
F
Bivigou
D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044383:Black People; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D019448:Ethnobotany; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005260:Female; D005681:Gabon; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000871:Anthelmintics; D010936:Plant Extracts
Anthelmintic; Ethnobotanical survey; Gabon; Medicinal plants