Etude ethnobotanique des plantes alimentaires spontanées vendues dans les marchés de Yaoundé, Cameroun

Des enquêtes ethnobotaniques sur la vente des plantes alimentaires spontanées ont été réalisées de mars à avril 2012 auprès de 102 vendeurs installés dans 13 marchés de la ville de Yaoundé. Trois cent quatre citations de plantes ont été relevées faisant intervenir 29 espèces végétales dans 32 recettes alimentaires différentes. Les espèces végétales citées sont distribuées dans 25 genres et 23 familles. Les fruits ou graines sont les organes végétaux les plus cités tandis que les condiments et les amuse-gueule ou fruits de bouche constituent dans cet ordre les types d’usages les plus indiqués. Les prix de plantes varient de 0,49 FCFA/g à 20 FCFA/g pour un prix moyen du gramme de 4,28 ± 3,1 FCFA (1 USD = 588 FCFA). Ces prix apparaissent plus élevés comparés aux autres pays et aussi à d’autres villes du Cameroun pour les mêmes espèces végétales. Des travaux complémentaires sur le suivi des vendeurs et la collecte des données floristiques et structurales sont nécessaires pour envisager le statut de vulnérabilité de ces espèces et anticiper sur les modèles de gestion durable et plus rentable.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Enquêtes ethnobotaniques, plantes alimentaires spontanées, recettes, coût, YaoundéEnglish Title: Ethnobotanical study of edible wild plants sold in the Yaoundé markets, CameroonEnglish AbstractEthnobotanical surveys were conducted among 102 sellers of edible wild plants based in 13 markets at the Yaounde city, between March and April 2012. A total of 304 citations of plants were recorded, using 29 plant species in 32 different food recipes. Fruits and seeds are the most used plant parts, while spices and mouth fruits are in this order the main type of usages observed. Unit prices of sold plants vary from 0.49 FCFA/g to 20 FCFA/g with an average price per gram of 4.28 ± 3.1 FCFA (1 USD = 588 FCFA). Those prices are high compared to other countries and to other cities in Cameroon for the same plant species. Further researches on the monitoring of sellers during a whole year and the gathering of floristic and structural data on food plants are important for establishing their endangerment and thinking of scenarios of sustaining the trade.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Ethnobotanical surveys, edible wild plants, recipes, price per gram, Yaound

Expériences sylvicoles au Cameroun : Croissance, mortalité et adaptabilité des espèces de bois d’oeuvre dans la station forestière de Mangombé (1964 - 2010)

Au Cameroun, l’exploitation du bois a entraîné la réduction du couvert forestier et son appauvrissement en espèces de bois d’oeuvre. Pour remédier à cette situation, de nombreuses plantations forestières ont été crées, puis abandonnées quelques décennies plus tard pour des raisons diverses, ce qui n’a pas permis de capitaliser l’ensemble des connaissances sylvicoles escomptées qui devaient permettre de réhabiliter les forêts et limiter les risques d’épuisement des stocks d’essences commerciales. Le dispositif sylvicole de Mangombé fait partie de ces initiatives, il ne compte plus que 27 parcelles d’arbres constituées de 15 espèces sur une quarantaine plantées. Ce travail, présente l’état de cette station forestière à travers l’étude de la croissance, de la mortalité des arbres et de l’adaptabilité des espèces. Dans chaque parcelle, toutes les tiges ont été inventoriées et leur diamètre à 1,30 m mesurés. Ce paramètre a permis d’établir la structure de population et d’apprécier la possible rentabilité économique des espèces. Les meilleures performances de croissance des arbres sont obtenues chez Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Gme-1 : 56 m²/ha) ; Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex D. Don (Ara-1 : 63 m²/ha) et Aucoumea klaineana Pierre (Auc-3 : 80 m²/ha). Les valeurs élevées des écarts types indiquent une croissance disproportionnée des individus à l’intérieur des parcelles. Les espèces présentant une faible mortalité et une proportion importante de tiges exploitées ainsi que de bonnes caractéristiques de croissance comme G. arborea, Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb. ex G. Don. (51 m²/ha) et A. klaineana se sont mieux adaptées au site de plantation et peuvent être recommandées pour les initiatives de reboisement dans la zone. La faible production observée chez un nombre élevé d’espèces est économiquement non rentable au regard des investissements onéreux consentis à la mise en place de la plantation.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Mangombé, Cameroun, plantation forestière, sylviculture, croissance des arbres, mortalité, adaptabilitéEnglish Title: Sylvicultural experience in Cameroon: Growth, mortality and adaptability of wood species in Mangombe forest plantation (1964 - 2010)English AbstractIn Cameroon, logging has led to a reduction in forest cover and an impoverishment of several wood species. To solve this problem, many forest plantations had been created, then abandoned a few decades later for various reasons. This did not make it possible for foresters and policy makers to acquire expected knowledge from these experiences, which would have led to forest rehabilitation and reduced the risk of commercial wood extinction. Mangombe tree plantation is part of these experiences, which is a remnant of 15 out of 40 originally planted tree species distributed in 27 plots. This work presents the state of Mangombe forest plantation through the study of the growth, mortality of the trees and adaptability of species. All the trees were censored and their diameters measured in each plot. These measurements facilitate the establishment of the population structure and appreciate the economic profitability of the species. The best growth performances of trees were obtained with Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Gme-1 : 56 m²/ha) ; Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex D. Don (Ara-1 : 63 m²/ha) and Aucoumea klaineana Pierre (Auc-3 : 80 m²/ha). High values of standard deviations indicate a disproportionate growth of the individuals inside the plot. Species presenting a low mortality and a significant proportion of exploited stems as well as good growth characteristics such as G. arborea, Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb. ex G. Gift. (51 m²/ha) and A. klaineana were better adapted to the site and can be recommended for future initiatives of afforestation in the zone. The low production of certain species is economically non profitable considering the high investment during the establishment of the plantation.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Mangombé, Cameroon, forest plantation, sylviculture, trees growth, mortality, adaptabilit

The Use of NTFPs in the Baka and Kounabembe Traditional Pharmacopoeia in the Northern Periphery of the Boumba-Bek National Park (Southeastern Cameroon)

Forest conservation around protected areas includes among others sustainable management of natural resources. This study was conducted in the area of the northern outskirts of the Boumba-Bek National Park in order to evaluate the potential use of plants in traditional medicine. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted with local people using AFLORA survey forms. A total of 132 plant species used in traditional medicine for primary health care were identified. These plants belong to 109 genera and 45 families. 224 treatments for 101 disease symptoms were collected. These diseases include the nervous system, excretory system and nutritional function. The most recurrent diseases are cough, sexual weakness, back pain, abscess, general tiredness, malaria. Some plants such as Baillonella toxisperma, Alstonia boonei, Annonidium mannii, Ricinidendron heudelotii, Klainedoxa gabonensis, Scorodophloeus zenkeri, Swartzia sp. treat several diseases at once. The plant parts mostly used are stem bark, leaves, seeds, sap, the marrow of the bark, the pith of the stem. The main method of preparation of these recipes is decoction while the most common method of administration is oral administration. The plant resources of this village have a high potential in traditional medicine for primary health care. The importance index varied from plant to plant. Keywords: NTFPs, AFLORA, medicinal plants, traditional medicine, primary health care. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-4-07 Publication date: February 28th 202

Can the Mangombe forest plantation contribute to restore and conserve biodiversity?

This research, conducted in the tropical rainforest, is focused on restoration of tree diversity through natural regeneration mechanism in the 49 year-old Mangombe forest plantation. 12 plots were surveyed, 6 with large transects and the 6 others under regrowth. In each plot, two subplots with 400 m² each were demarcated for the inventory of all stems with diameter greater than 2.5 cm. A total of 2239 stems comprising 107 species distributed in 93 genera and 42 families were identified over 9600 m². There was a slight difference between species richness of plots with large transect (79 species, 72 genera and 35 families) and regrowth plots (85 species, 76 genera and 38 families) while the basal area in the plots with large transects (10.76 m²/ha) was significantly greater than that of regrowth (8.65 m²/ha). Species with high important value index have an affinity with forest undergrowth such as: Tabernaemontana pachysiphon, T. crassa, Mallotus oppositifolius and Heinsia crinita. The undergrowth is diversified with different life feature and a high number of small size trees indicating a vigorous regeneration. This can be favoured by: microclimate undergrowth, canopy gaps, abundance of litter fall that brings humus to the soil, type and age of plots, planted species and the complexity of spatial and vertical structure of the stand.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Mangombé – Cameroon, Natural regeneration, dense humid forest, tree plantation, biodiversit

Dynamique des populations d'azobé, Lophira alata Banks ex C. F. Gaertn., et implications pour sa gestion durable au Cameroun

L'impact de l'exploitation forestière sur le renouvellement du stock de bois d'oeuvre reste largement méconnu en Afrique centrale du fait du manque de données sur la dynamique des populations d'arbres exploités. C'est en particulier le cas pour l'azobé, Lophira alata, un bois d'oeuvre de grande valeur commerciale. L'objectif de cette étude est double : quantifier l'effet du type forestier et de l'exploitation sur la croissance de l'azobé et simuler l'évolution du stock exploitable et du taux de reconstitution après exploitation. Nous avons effectué pendant trois ans un suivi annuel de la croissance et de la mortalité dans trois types forestiers au Cameroun : en forêt sempervirente, en forêt mixte et en forêt semi-caducifoliée. Le recrute-ment a été étudié uniquement en forêt mixte, sous deux conditions : en milieu exploité et non exploité. Nous avons calibré, avec ces données, un modèle matriciel de Usher. Douze scénarios d'exploitation ont été simulés en faisant varier le diamètre minimum d'exploitation de 60, 70 et 80 cm, et l'intensité de prélèvement des arbres de 100 à 40 %. La croissance de l'azobé est influencée à la fois par le type forestier et l'exploitation. Les arbres de forêt sempervirente ont une croissance plus faible jusqu'à 50 cm de dia-mètre, alors que la croissance maximale prédite pour ce type forestier est la plus élevée. L'exploitation a par ailleurs stimulé la croissance. Enfin, l'exploitation de l'azobé ne respecte pas le principe du rendement soutenu : ses taux de croissance à long terme varient entre 0,54 et 0,83 %. Pour garantir la durabilité de son exploitation au Cameroun, une sylviculture dynamisant la croissance des futurs arbres exploitables, ainsi que leur régé-nération, s'avère indispensable

Importance of Massularia accuminata (Myrtaceae), Piptadiniastrum africanum (Fabaceae), and Costus afer (Zingiberaceae), Three Plants of the Cameroonian Traditional Medicine Used in the Treatment of Sinusitis by the Village Populations of Bomb-Lissomb and

Costus afer, Massularia acuminate and Piptadeniastrum africanum are three plants used in Cameroonian traditional medicine to treat sinusitis. The aim of this study is to justify the interest granted to this three species in the treatment of this disease and to promote their sustainable management. The study was carried out at Bomb-Lissomb and at the goat market. Several types of data were collected: data on the use of these plants in traditional anti-sinus medicine, data on their varied other uses by local residents, data on the availability of these plants as well as data on the interest that these species could generate. Furthermore, the evolution of treatment in patients who received plant extracts was followed after two months to justify their efficiency against sinusitis. The technique used for the removal of organs from the plant's vegetative growth was described. Finally, phytochemical screening of extracts obtained after aqueous maceration of plant organs was performed.  Amongst the informants who took part to this study, 17 mentioned barks of Piptadeniastrum africanum and 29 mentioned fruits of Massularia acuminata to treat sinusitis. Treatments administered to patients are made either from monospecific recipes or from a mixture of two or three plants. The average duration of treatment is 29 days when patients are only treated with fruits of Massularia acuminata and 12 days when they are subjected to treatments based on a recipe made from stem barks of Piptadeniastrum africanum and fruits of Massularia acuminate. Treatment seems to be effective from the 2nd time the medication is taken. Harvesting techniques allowing large quantities of organs to be removed from a few individuals affects the regeneration of these individuals. Stems barks and leaves of Massularia acuminata contain almost the same bioactive compounds as fruits

Diversity and structure of Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman stands in the Tchabal forest massif: A case study from Adamawa Cameroon: Phytodiversity of Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman in Cameroon

The aim of this work is to provide basic data for a better knowledge of Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman stands through a non-exhaustive floristic inventory in the Sudano-Guinean zone of Cameroon. Transects of 2,000 x 20 m² were installed in these stands in the Tchabal forest massif. The inventory concerned timbers with dbh ≥ 10 cm. Herbaceous were counted according to the "sigmatiste zuricho-montpelléraine” method. In total, 25 families distributed in 41 genera and 46 species and for herbaceous, 19 families distributed in 42 genera and 46 species were recorded in the stands. The stands of Bontadji and Horé-Déo are the richest. Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Ficus thonningii Blume and Croton macrostachyus Hochst. ex Delile are the most abundant taxa in each site. The Fongoy I locality stands are the most diversified (ISH: 0.87 ± 0.07; H': 0.99 ± 0.01). There is a floristic similarity of about 30% between localities. The stands of Fongoy I are very dense and basal area (D=394 ± 0.31 individuals/ha and BA= 25.80 ± 8.05 m²/ha). Structural analysis shows an "L" shape attesting to the presence of future stems. This observation is supported by the vertical structure of the stands. This information constitutes an important argument for the protection of the environment

Assessment of resilience of aromatic plants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Douala, Cameroon

Aromatic plants are one of the components of Cameroonian medicinal flora that seem to be an alternative to fight against the Covid-19 disease. The present study aims to establish chemical characterization of some aromatic plant organs used in the Douala IV sub-division during the COVID-19 pandemic. A semi-structured survey was carried out between September and December 2020 in order to identify aromatic plants used for health diseases during the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to their ethnobotanical index the selected plants were screened chemically through staining and precipitation methods to determine different bioactive compounds. Thirty-one (31) plant species belonging to 17 families were recorded with the dominated by Lamiaceae and Zingiberaceae being the dominant families and Ocimum gratissimum as the most cited species (28.57%) in the composition of recipes. Leaves (50.80%) were the most used organs to prepare the decoctions (33.33%) administered to patients orally. These plants were used in the treatment of 51 ailments diseases, notably malaria, cough and typhoid fever with 22, 21 and 12 citations respectively. Informant Consensus Factors (ICF) showed a relatively high agreement (0.75) for the use of species against respiratory diseases. Zingiber officinale, Citrus limon and Cymbopogon citratus had a good performance (Ip = 3) against cough, typhoid and malaria respectively. Extracts of aromatic plant organs were rich in alkaloids and phenolic compounds. These aromatic species showed their ability to treat respiratory and other infectious diseases, and could be an alternative to fight against Covid-19. Keywords: Aromatic plants; Bioactive compounds; Douala IV; Drug recipes; Ethnobotanical index