Medicinal Plants Used Against Typhoid Fever in Bamboutos Division, Western Cameroon

Typhoid fever is a serious infectious disease that has been a public health concern for millennia. An impressive number of plant species are traditionally used in the management of typhoid fever in the Bamboutos Division of the West Region of Cameroon. In the present ethnobotanical survey an attempt has been made to document the different medicinal plants used traditionally by traditional healers and elders to treat typhoid fever. Ethnobotanical interviews on medicinal plants used to treat typhoid fever were conducted with traditional healers and elderly persons using open-ended semi-structured questionnaires. Field trips were made to the sites where they harvest plants, and specimens were collected and identified. A total of 59 medicinal plant species belonging to 56 genera and 33 families were recorded during the study. The most commonly used plant families recorded were Asteraceae (17%); Fabaceae (7%); and Bignoniaceae, Malvaceae, and Moraceae (5.0% each). The most frequently utilized medicinal plant parts were leaves (48.6%), followed by bark (28.9%), stem (7.8%), whole plant (6.5%), roots (5.2%), and fruits (2.6%). while shrubs (35,5%) were the primary source of medicine, followed by herbs (32.2%) and trees (30.5%). Most of the medicinal plant species (40.6%) were harvested from the wild compared to 38.9% from cultivated land and 20.3% semi-cultivated. Decoction was the most common method of traditional drug preparation. Oral administration was the only mode of dispensing of herbal medicine. Most of the plants were used in combination to increase effectiveness in the treatment of the disease. Knowledge of the use of plants as medicines remains mostly with traditional healers and older generation who are illiterate. It is recommended that research institutes and university researchers carry out research on these species so as to conserve and improve their genetic constitutions. Also, attempts must be made to encourage the documentation of plants, so that they can be readily accessible to a larger number of populace

Medicinal plants used for treating reproductive health care problems in Cameroon, Central Africa

Approximately 80% of the African population uses traditional plants to deal with health problems, basically because of their easy accessibility and affordability. This study was carried out to document indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used by traditional healers and elders in the treatment of reproductive health care in the Bamboutos Division of the West Region in Cameroon, Central Africa. The research methods used included semi-structured interviews and participative field observations. For the interviews, 70 knowledgeable respondents (40 traditional healers and 30 elders) were selected via purposive sampling. Voucher specimens were collected with the help of respondents, processed into the Cameroon National Herbarium in Yaounde following standard methods, identified with the help of pertinent floras and taxonomic experts, and submitted to Department of Botany at the University of Dschang. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and summarize ethnobotanical information obtained. Informant consensus factors (ICF) were used to elucidate the agreement among informants on the species to be used in the treatment within a category of illness. The results showed that a total of 70 plant species from 37 families (mostly of the Asteraceae [8 species], Euphorbiaceae [7], and Acanthaceae and Bignoniaceae [4 each]) are used in the treatment of 27 reproductive ailments, with the highest number of species (37) being used against venereal diseases, followed by female (29) andmale infertility (21), respectively. Leaves (47.3%) were the most commonly harvested plant parts and the most common growth forms harvested were the herbs (45.7%), followed by shrubs (30%). Sixty percent of plant material was obtained from the wild ecosystems. Herbal remedies were mostly prepared in the form of decoction (66.2%) and were taken mainly orally. Informant consensus about usages of medicinal plants ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 with an average value of 0.91. It can be concluded that medicinal plants have played and will continue to play major roles in the management of reproductive healthcare in the study area

Importance Socioéconomique et Ethnomédicinale de Haematostaphis barteri Hook F. dans les Localités de Bidzar, Figuil, Boula-ibbi et Lagam, Nord-Cameroun

L’étude avait pour but de documenter les connaissances des populations locales sur l’intérêt socioéconomique et médicinales de Haematostaphis barteri dans les localités de Bidzar, Figuil, Boula-ibbi and Lagam, au Nord-Cameroun. Elle s’est déroulée entre septembre et novembre 2018 et a impliqué 93 personnes de trois groupes ethniques (Guidar, Peulh et Guiziga) et choisies de façon aléatoire. Constitués d’hommes, de femmes, de jeunes, des personnes âgées et des tradithérapeutes. La collecte des données a été faite par des entrevues semi-structurées. Ces entretiens ont été conduits en langues française et locale, avec recours parfois à un interprète. Des paramètres ethnobotaniques comme la valeur d’usage et consensuelle, le taux de réponse, l’indice culturel d’importance, le niveau de fidélité et le degré de consensus sur la médication ont été utilisés pour évaluer l’importance de H. barteri dans les localités étudiées. Les résultats obtenus révèlent sur le plan ethnique et genre, une forte participation des Guidars et une dominance du genre masculin. Ces enquêtés pour la plupart étaient analphabètes et exerçaient comme activité principale l’agriculture (68,82%) soutenue par un système d’entraide appelé « Sourgha ». Le nom local de H. barteri variait d’une ethnie à l’autre et était, soit une combinaison de la saveur des fruits et de sa disposition sur l’arbre, ou alors un assemblage couleur et nombre de fruits par grappe. Cette espèce est employée dans quatre (04) domaines d’utilisations, avec un large consentement pour les usages alimentaires (4 UV) et médicinaux (3UV). Le faible consentement (1,33UV) est enregistré pour son utilisation sous forme de bois d’énergie. Les fruits sont majoritairement utilisés dans l’alimentation (37%) et sa vente procure aux ménages des moyens de subsistance ; alors dans la catégorie médicinale, ce sont les feuilles, les écorces et les racines sous forme de décoction qui sont sollicitées pour traiter dix (10) affections ; dont l’anémie, la fièvre, le mal de ventre, la typhoïde, le mal d’estomac et le paludisme comme maladies les plus traitées. Pour booster l’effet du phytomédicament, H. barteri est parfois associée à Tamarindus indica, Acacia nilotica et au miel. Aucune mesure de gestion durable et rationnelle de l’espèce n’a été déclarée par nos enquêtés, toutefois, ils disent avoir mis en place des stratégies comme la multiplication des champs et la diversification de cultures et l’abandon des terres pauvres au profit de nouvelles terres fertiles, pour faire face aux impacts négatifs des changements globaux. Les multiples utilisations et très variées, associées à l’absence de mesures adéquates de gestion soutenable et aux effets du changement climatique affectent les individus de cette espèce dans les localités investiguées ; ainsi des mesures de préservations s’imposent.   The aim of the study was to document the socio-economic and medicinal use of Haematostaphis barteri by local populations of Bidzar, Figuil, Boula-ibbi and Lagam, in North Cameroon. A total of 93 respondents in three groups (Guidar, Peulh and Guiziga) in North Cameroon were randomly selected to participe in the survey. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected men, women, young, elderly and traditional healers between september and november 2018. These interviews were conducted in french and local languages, sometimes with the need of an interpreter. Ethnobotanical parameters such as use value, consensus value, response rate, cultural importance index, fidelity level and medication consensus level were used to evaluate the importance of H. barteri in the investigated localities. On the ethnic and gender level, the result showed a strong participation of Guidars group and male gender. Most of the respondents were illiterate and their main activity was agriculture (68,82%) which is supported by mutual aid system called “Sourgha”. H. barteri local name varied from on group to another and was either a combination of the flavor of the fruit and its arrangement on the tree, or else a combination of color and number of fruits per cluster. This specie is used in four (04) categories (food, medicinal, economic and fuelwood), with broad consent for food (4UV) and medicinal (3UV) uses. Low consent (1,33UV) was recorded for fuelwood use. Fruits were the most frequently used part in food category (37%) and its commercialization provides means of subsistence to many households. In medicinal category, leaves, barks and roots were used in form of decoction to treat ten (10) diseases, with anemia, fever, stomach ache, typhoid, stomach ache and malaria as the most treated diseases. To boost the effect of herbal medicine did by H. barteri parts, respondents sometimes added honey and some parts of Tamarindus indica and Acacia nilotica. No measure of sustainable and rational management of the species has been declared by our respondents, however, they say they have put in place strategies such as the multiplication of fields, diversification of crops and abandonment of poor land in favor of new fertile lands, in order to cope with the negative impacts of global changes. Multiple uses, associated with the absence of adequate measures of sustainable management and the effects of climate change affect individuals of this species in the investigated localities, therefore, preservation measures are needed

Importance Socioéconomique et Ethnomédicinale de Haematostaphis barteri Hook F. dans les Localités de Bidzar, Figuil, Boula-ibbi et Lagam, Nord-Cameroun

L’étude avait pour but de documenter les connaissances des populations locales sur l’intérêt socioéconomique et médicinales de Haematostaphis barteri dans les localités de Bidzar, Figuil, Boula-ibbi and Lagam, au Nord-Cameroun. Elle s’est déroulée entre septembre et novembre 2018 et a impliqué 93 personnes de trois groupes ethniques (Guidar, Peulh et Guiziga) et choisies de façon aléatoire. Constitués d’hommes, de femmes, de jeunes, des personnes âgées et des tradithérapeutes. La collecte des données a été faite par des entrevues semi-structurées. Ces entretiens ont été conduits en langues française et locale, avec recours parfois à un interprète. Des paramètres ethnobotaniques comme la valeur d’usage et consensuelle, le taux de réponse, l’indice culturel d’importance, le niveau de fidélité et le degré de consensus sur la médication ont été utilisés pour évaluer l’importance de H. barteri dans les localités étudiées. Les résultats obtenus révèlent sur le plan ethnique et genre, une forte participation des Guidars et une dominance du genre masculin. Ces enquêtés pour la plupart étaient analphabètes et exerçaient comme activité principale l’agriculture (68,82%) soutenue par un système d’entraide appelé « Sourgha ». Le nom local de H. barteri variait d’une ethnie à l’autre et était, soit une combinaison de la saveur des fruits et de sa disposition sur l’arbre, ou alors un assemblage couleur et nombre de fruits par grappe. Cette espèce est employée dans quatre (04) domaines d’utilisations, avec un large consentement pour les usages alimentaires (VUE = 4) et médicinaux (VUE = 3). Le faible consentement (VUE = 1,33) est enregistré pour son utilisation sous forme de bois d’énergie. Les fruits sont majoritairement utilisés dans l’alimentation (37%) et sa vente procure aux ménages des moyens de subsistance ; alors dans la catégorie médicinale, ce sont les racines, les écorces et les feuilles sous forme de décoction qui sont sollicitées pour traiter dix (10) affections ; dont l’anémie, la fièvre, le mal de ventre, la typhoïde, le mal d’estomac et le paludisme comme maladies les plus traitées. Pour booster l’effet du phytomédicament, H. barteri est parfois associée à Tamarindus indica, Acacia nilotica et au miel. Aucune mesure de gestion durable et rationnelle de l’espèce n’a été déclarée par nos enquêtés, toutefois, ils disent avoir mis en place des stratégies comme la multiplication des champs et la diversification de cultures et l’abandon des terres pauvres au profit de nouvelles terres fertiles, pour faire face aux impacts négatifs des changements globaux. Les multiples utilisations et très variées, associées à l’absence de mesures adéquates de gestion soutenable et aux effets du changement climatique affectent les individus de cette espèce dans les localités investiguées ; ainsi des mesures de préservations s’imposent.   The aim of the study was to document the socio-economic and medicinal use of Haematostaphis barteri by local populations of Bidzar, Figuil, Boula-ibbi and Lagam, in North Cameroon. A total of 93 respondents in three groups (Guidar, Peulh and Guiziga) in North Cameroon were randomly selected to participe in the survey. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected men, women, young, elderly and traditional healers between september and november 2018. These interviews were conducted in french and local languages, sometimes with the need of an interpreter. Ethnobotanical parameters such as use value, consensus value, response rate, cultural importance index, fidelity level and medication consensus level were used to evaluate the importance of H. barteri in the investigated localities. made and served as analyzing basis. On the ethnic and gender level, the result showed a strong participation of Guidars group and male gender. Most of the respondents were illiterate and their main activity was agriculture (68,82%) which is supported by mutual aid system called “Sourgha”. H. barteri local name varied from on group to another and was either a combination of the flavor of the fruit and its arrangement on the tree, or else a combination of color and number of fruits per cluster. This specie is used in four (04) categories (food, medicinal, economic and fuelwood), with broad consent for food (EUV = 4) and medicinal (EUV = 3) uses. Low consent (EUV = 1,33) was recorded for fuelwood use. Fruits were the most frequently used part in food category (37%) and its commercialization provides means of subsistence to many households. In medicinal category, roots, barks and leaves were used in form of decoction to treat ten (10) diseases, with anemia, fever, stomach ache, typhoid, stomach ache and malaria as the most treated diseases. To boost the effect of herbal medicine did by H. barteri parts, respondents sometimes added honey and some parts of Tamarindus indica and Acacia nilotica. No measure of sustainable and rational management of the species has been declared by our respondents, however, they say they have put in place strategies such as the multiplication of fields, diversification of crops and abandonment of poor land in favor of new fertile lands, in order to cope with the negative impacts of global changes. Multiple uses, associated with the absence of adequate measures of sustainable management and the effects of climate change affect individuals of this species in the investigated localities, therefore, preservation measures are needed

Importance Socioéconomique et Ethnomédicinale de Haematostaphis barteri Hook F. dans les Localités de Bidzar, Figuil, Boula-ibbi et Lagam, Nord-Cameroun

L’étude avait pour but de documenter les connaissances des populations locales sur l’intérêt socioéconomique et médicinales de Haematostaphis barteri dans les localités de Bidzar, Figuil, Boula-ibbi and Lagam, au Nord-Cameroun. Elle s’est déroulée entre septembre et novembre 2018 et a impliqué 93 personnes de trois groupes ethniques (Guidar, Peulh et Guiziga) et choisies de façon aléatoire. Constitués d’hommes, de femmes, de jeunes, des personnes âgées et des tradithérapeutes. La collecte des données a été faite par des entrevues semi-structurées. Ces entretiens ont été conduits en langues française et locale, avec recours parfois à un interprète. Des paramètres ethnobotaniques comme la valeur d’usage et consensuelle, le taux de réponse, l’indice culturel d’importance, le niveau de fidélité et le degré de consensus sur la médication ont été utilisés pour évaluer l’importance de H. barteri dans les localités étudiées. Les résultats obtenus révèlent sur le plan ethnique et genre, une forte participation des Guidars et une dominance du genre masculin. Ces enquêtés pour la plupart étaient analphabètes et exerçaient comme activité principale l’agriculture (68,82%) soutenue par un système d’entraide appelé « Sourgha ». Le nom local de H. barteri variait d’une ethnie à l’autre et était, soit une combinaison de la saveur des fruits et de sa disposition sur l’arbre, ou alors un assemblage couleur et nombre de fruits par grappe. Cette espèce est employée dans quatre (04) domaines d’utilisations, avec un large consentement pour les usages alimentaires (4 UV) et médicinaux (3UV). Le faible consentement (1,33UV) est enregistré pour son utilisation sous forme de bois d’énergie. Les fruits sont majoritairement utilisés dans l’alimentation (37%) et sa vente procure aux ménages des moyens de subsistance ; alors dans la catégorie médicinale, ce sont les feuilles, les écorces et les racines sous forme de décoction qui sont sollicitées pour traiter dix (10) affections ; dont l’anémie, la fièvre, le mal de ventre, la typhoïde, le mal d’estomac et le paludisme comme maladies les plus traitées. Pour booster l’effet du phytomédicament, H. barteri est parfois associée à Tamarindus indica, Acacia nilotica et au miel. Aucune mesure de gestion durable et rationnelle de l’espèce n’a été déclarée par nos enquêtés, toutefois, ils disent avoir mis en place des stratégies comme la multiplication des champs et la diversification de cultures et l’abandon des terres pauvres au profit de nouvelles terres fertiles, pour faire face aux impacts négatifs des changements globaux. Les multiples utilisations et très variées, associées à l’absence de mesures adéquates de gestion soutenable et aux effets du changement climatique affectent les individus de cette espèce dans les localités investiguées ; ainsi des mesures de préservations s’imposent.   The aim of the study was to document the socio-economic and medicinal use of Haematostaphis barteri by local populations of Bidzar, Figuil, Boula-ibbi and Lagam, in North Cameroon. A total of 93 respondents in three groups (Guidar, Peulh and Guiziga) in North Cameroon were randomly selected to participe in the survey. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected men, women, young, elderly and traditional healers between september and november 2018. These interviews were conducted in french and local languages, sometimes with the need of an interpreter. Ethnobotanical parameters such as use value, consensus value, response rate, cultural importance index, fidelity level and medication consensus level were used to evaluate the importance of H. barteri in the investigated localities. On the ethnic and gender level, the result showed a strong participation of Guidars group and male gender. Most of the respondents were illiterate and their main activity was agriculture (68,82%) which is supported by mutual aid system called “Sourgha”. H. barteri local name varied from on group to another and was either a combination of the flavor of the fruit and its arrangement on the tree, or else a combination of color and number of fruits per cluster. This specie is used in four (04) categories (food, medicinal, economic and fuelwood), with broad consent for food (4UV) and medicinal (3UV) uses. Low consent (1,33UV) was recorded for fuelwood use. Fruits were the most frequently used part in food category (37%) and its commercialization provides means of subsistence to many households. In medicinal category, leaves, barks and roots were used in form of decoction to treat ten (10) diseases, with anemia, fever, stomach ache, typhoid, stomach ache and malaria as the most treated diseases. To boost the effect of herbal medicine did by H. barteri parts, respondents sometimes added honey and some parts of Tamarindus indica and Acacia nilotica. No measure of sustainable and rational management of the species has been declared by our respondents, however, they say they have put in place strategies such as the multiplication of fields, diversification of crops and abandonment of poor land in favor of new fertile lands, in order to cope with the negative impacts of global changes. Multiple uses, associated with the absence of adequate measures of sustainable management and the effects of climate change affect individuals of this species in the investigated localities, therefore, preservation measures are needed

Cytotoxicity of Elaoephorbia drupifera and other Cameroonian medicinal plants against drug sensitive and multidrug resistant cancer cells

BACKGROUND: Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major hurdle for cancer treatment worldwide and accounts for chemotherapy failure in over 90% of patients with metastatic cancer. Evidence of the cytotoxicity of Cameroonian plants against cancer cell lines including MDR phenotypes is been intensively and progressively provided. The present work was therefore designed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the methanol extracts of twenty-two Cameroonian medicinal plants against sensitive and MDR cancer cell lines. METHODS: The methanol maceration was used to obtain the crude plant extracts whilst the cytotoxicity of the studied extracts was determined using a resazurin reduction assay. RESULTS: A preliminary assay on leukemia CCRF-CEM cells at 40 μg/mL shows that six of the twenty plant extract were able to enhance less than 50% of the growth proliferation of CCRF-CEM cells. These include Crinum zeylanicum (32.22%), Entada abyssinica (34.67%), Elaoephorbia drupifera (35.05%), Dioscorea bulbifera (45.88%), Eremomastax speciosa (46.07%) and Polistigma thonningii (45.11%). Among these six plants, E. drupifera showed the best activity with IC(50) values below or around 30 μg/mL against the nine tested cancer cell lines. The lowest IC(50) value of 8.40 μg/mL was recorded with the extract of E. drupifera against MDA-MB231 breast cancer cell line. The IC(50) values below 10 μg/mL were recorded with the extracts of E. drupifera against MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells, C. zeylanicum against HCT116 p53(+)/(+) and HCT116p53(-)/(-) colon cancer cells and E. abyssinica against HCT116 p53(+)/(+) cells. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study provide evidence of the cytotoxic potential of some Cameroonian medicinal plants and a baseline information for the potential use of Elaoephorbia drupifera in the treatment of sensitive and drug-resistant cancer cell lines

Floristic diversity and management of fodder resources of the natural pastures of the Savanna Highlands of Western Cameroon

Sustainable management of pastoral resources requires knowledge in terms of floristic diversity and productivity of the rangelands. The objective of the present study carried out in the Bamboutos Mountains was to assess the floristic diversity and carrying capacity of the natural pastures. Floristic inventory was done using the method of quadrat point aligned in 15 plots of 400 m². Aerial phytomass of herbaceous plants was measured by the full harvest method. A total of 74 species, including 09 woody plants belonging to 56 genera and 20 families were recorded. The number of taxa recorded in the plots varied from 11 to 36 species. Imperata cylindrica with a specific contribution of presence of 17.45% was the most abundant species in the rangeland. The species-richest families were Poaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Cyperaceae. The calculated pastoral value of the pasture was 56.21%. These pastures were dominated by phanerophytes (29.72%) and therophytes (24.32%). The forage productivity of the grazed area, estimated based on the regrowth biomass was 6498.57 kg DM/ha while the carrying capacity of the rangeland was 2.31 TLU/ha. These results showed that the fodder potential of the Bamboutos Mountains is enough diversified but remains under exploited

Can antimalarial, antiviral and anti-respiratory infections Cameroonian medicinal plants be used as one of the potential ways to cure COVID-19? Pharmacological and ethnomedicinal proof

COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory syndrome-related corona-virus SARS-CoV-2, that constitutes a pandemic threat to global public health. Unfortunately, there are no specific available therapies. This research work presents the findings of an investigation on traditional Cameroonian remedies of respiratory tract infections, malaria and viral infections, and also recipes that could serve as a baseline for the prevention, alleviate symptoms, treatment and perhaps may help for the anti-COVID-19 drugs discovery. Data on the medicinal plants were collected from traditional healers, Cameroonian medicinal plants books, the internet, and in addition to our personal experience as researchers and herbalists. Details of 85 plant species used to manage these three mentioned diseases in Cameroon and their pharmacological properties are recorded. Due to their ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities, twenty-eight (28) plant species and 13 recipes are suggested for COVID-19 prevention, alleviate symptoms, treatment and baseline for anti-COVID-19 drug discovery. Amongst the proposed plants we have the following, Curcuma longa, Azadirachta indica, Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum and Ocimum gratissimum which were reported to possess certain inhibition properties against COVID-19 protease

Characterization and Carbon Sequestration Potential of Sacred Forests in the Western Highlands Cameroon

Cameroon has a diversity of forest ecosystems, including sacred forests that have been preserved until now by traditional laws. The aim of this study was to characterize the vegetation of two sacred forests in the Western Highlands and to estimate the quantities of carbon stored by these forests. The inventories were carried out in 24 quadrats measuring 30 m x 30 m installed in the Bansoa and Baloum forests according to their surface area. Individuals with a diameter of 10 cm or more at breast height (1.30 m from the ground) were measured.  Phytodiversity was assessed using the Shannon and Simpson indixes. The quantities of carbon stored by the sacred forests were obtained using allometric equations developed by other researchers and appropriate to the tropical zone. Overall, 50 species in 31 genera and 25 families were recorded. The diversity index values are low. They range from 1.47 to 2.52 bits per plot for the Shannon index, and from 0.70 to 0.91 for the Simpson index. Markhamia lutea and Cola acuminata are the most frequent and abundant species in the study area. The densities of individuals per hectare are 368 individuals/ha at Bansoa and 416 individuals/ha at Baloum and the basal area varies from 32.37 m2/ha to 38.44 m2/ha. The shrub layer dominates in both forests. Of the species recorded, 03 are Vulnerable and 02 are Endangered. Carbon sequestration was 286.84 t C/ha at Baloum and 232.44 t C/ha at Bansoa, with CO2 uptake of 1052.12 t CO2/ha and 853.55 t CO2 /ha respectively. The results of this study show that despite their small size, sacred forests play a significant role in the conservation of plant diversity and also help to reduce greenhouse gases in nature