Publication
Title
Ethnobotanical survey on medicinal plants used by Guinean traditional healers in the treatment of malaria
Author
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance: The objective of the present study was to collect and document information on herbal remedies traditionally used for the treatment of malaria in Guinea. Materials and methods: The survey was carried out from May 2008 to September 2010 and targeted traditional medical practitioners and herbalists. The questionnaire and oral interviews were based on the standardized model which was prepared by the "Centre de Recherche et de Valorisation des Plantes Medicinales (CRVPM) - Dubreka". Results and discussion: A total of 258 people (141 males and 117 females) from which 150 traditional healers and 108 herbalists were interviewed. The age of informants ranged from 28 to 82 years old. 57% (1491258) of the interviewees were more than 50 years old. The respondents had good knowledge of the symptoms of malaria, and a fairly good understanding of the causes. One hundred thirteen plant species were recorded, out of which 109 were identified. They belonged to 84 genera and 46 families. The most frequently cited plants were Vismia guineensis, Parkia biglobosa, Nauclea latifolia, Harungana madagascariensis, Terminalia macroptera, Crossopteryx febrifuga, Terminalia albida, Annona senegalensis, and Nauclea pobeguinii. The leaves were most frequently used (80/113 species), followed by stem bark (38/113 species) and roots (4/113 species). The remedies were mostly prepared by decoction (111 species), followed by maceration (seven species). Only one species was prepared by infusion. Conclusion: The present study showed that traditional healers in Guinea have a consistent knowledge of antimalarial plants. Further research should be carried out to compare the anti-malarial activity of the different species, and to check if their use against malaria can be scientifically validated. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of ethnopharmacology. - Lausanne
Publication
Lausanne : 2013
ISSN
0378-8741
DOI
10.1016/J.JEP.2013.10.048
Volume/pages
150 :3 (2013) , p. 1145-1153
ISI
000329884600042
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 07.03.2014
Last edited 09.10.2023
To cite this reference