Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SJMPS)
Volume-7 | Issue-06 | 251-261
Original Research Article
Ethnobotanical Studies of Plants with Antihypertensive Properties in the City of Nkongsamba, Cameroon
TANKEU Séverin Elisée, ETAME-LOE Gisèle Marie Marguerite, FANNANG Simone Véronique, LADOH YEMEDA Christelle Flora, NGOUONDJOU FOZE Teclaire, BAMAL Hans Denis, NDONGO DIN
Published : June 11, 2021
Abstract
The use of plants to treat chronic diseases such as high blood pressure is part of ancient African traditions. Many authors have placed an emphasis on the study of plants through the ethnobotanical approach and the results obtained in different regions have shown that the use of plants to treat chronic diseases is very widespread. Ethnobotanical surveys aiming at identifying plants with antihypertensive properties were carried out in the city of Nkongsamba, Littoral Region, Cameroon, with traditional health practitioners in markets and associations. The data analysis focused on determining, for each species, the frequency of citation (CF), the confirmation or consensus index of informants (ICs), the frequency of use (FU) and contribution to the constitution of revenue (Cpr). A total of 35 people were interviewed as part of this survey: 24 men and 11 women. The distribution of respondents by age group showed that the group [41-60] is the most represented. People from the Cameroon West Region were the most represented among respondents. The distribution of respondents according to profession showed that traditional healers were more represented. The distribution of respondents according to religion showed that Christians were more represented. The distribution of respondents by level of study showed that respondents who dropped out of secondary school were more represented. The floristic inventory identified 55 species divided into 50 genera and 33 families. The most cited species was Alium sativum. The flora of Nkongsamba therefore contains an important diversity of plants with antihypertensive properties widely used by traditional therapists.