Ethnopharmacological Survey of Medicinal Plants Used against Malaria in Bukavu City (D.R. Congo).
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Date
2014-01
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Abstract
Aims: An Ethnopharmacological survey was conducted in the city of Bukavu, in order to
identify plant species and recipes used in Congolese folk medicine for the treatment of
malaria.
Study Design: Survey; plant collection; plant identification and classification: family, used
part, treated disease, recipes preparation; floristic characterization.
Place and Duration of Study: “Université Officielle de Bukavu” (DR Congo), from
February 2011toDecember 2012.
Methodology: Forty-nine healers belonging to different ethnic groups were interviewed
about the plant species used in traditional medicine for the management of malaria in the
city of Bukavu. The name of the plants, the plant parts, the modes of preparation and the
modes of administration of recipes were recorded. Cited plants were collected and identified at herbarium of the Laboratory of Ecology and Plants Resource Management,
Faculty of Sciences, “Université Officielle de Bukavu”. The plants ecological status was
also determined.
Results: Forty species of plants belonging to twenty seven botanical families were
identified. The main habitat preference of species is cultivated (62%), trees constituted
33% of morphological type while 30% of biological type are microphanerophytes. The
decoction was the main mode of preparation (47.5%) and almost all recipes (100%of
cases) are administrated by oral route. Leaves constituted sixty percent of plant organs
used for drug preparation.
Conclusion: Some plant species cited (62.5%) are known in the literature to possess
antimalarial activity. Further studies should be undertaken to investigate effectiveness of
other plants that have not yet been studied and to determine their chemical composition.
Description
Keywords
Medicinal plants, malaria, Ethnopharmacological survey, Bukavu, D R Congo
Citation
Kasali F M, Mahano A O, Nyakabwa D S, Kadima N J, Misakabu F M, Tshibangu D S T, Ngbolua K N, Mpiana P T. Ethnopharmacological Survey of Medicinal Plants Used against Malaria in Bukavu City (D.R. Congo). European Journal of Medicinal Plants. 2014 Jan; 4(1): 29-44.