Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by traditional healers for the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases in the Congo Basin

The objective of the present survey is to list the major plants used in Congolese traditional folk medicine for the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases as well as to review the phytogeographical distribution of these plants, their natural habitats, plant parts used, routes of administration, and administered doses. Several methods have been used to fulfil the aim of the study: an ethnobotanical survey, observation of the practices of traditional healers, and bibliographical research focused on the ethnobotany and antioxidant power of sub-Saharan African medicinal plants. From a questionnaire, a guided semi-structured interview was carried out to obtain information from independent traditional healers in the Republic of the Congo. A total of 70 plants distributed among 47 families were identified. These plants are mainly employed to treat hypertension, diabetes, and anaemia, but they also were used to a lesser extent for fighting other pathologies such as infertility, asthma, ulcer, cough, and viral hepatitis. Analgesic, antiseptic, and aphrodisiac activities of the medicinal plants as well as their ability to improve visual acuity were also reported. Most of the plant preparations were taken orally as a decoction or infusion or taken directly as a powder. Treatments generally involve only one plant, but mixtures of several plants were also used. Other ingredients, such as lemon, milk, and honey, were sometimes added to preparations to facilitate their ingestion. Am...
Source: Journal of Herbal Medicine - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research