Contribution to traditional knowledge used for the prevention and healing of the Covid-19 symptoms by local people of Deng-Deng massif forest Cameroon

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 which causes the corona virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) continues to spread worldwide, causing death and panic in rural communities with little emergency medical facilities. The efficiency of traditional medicine has become the priority to prevent this pandemic. The aim of this study was to identify local knowledge and forest plant species used by local populations of the Deng-Deng massif forest against the Covid-19 pandemic. Semi-structured questionnaires was used; and inquired including the naturopaths, healers and heads of households (men and/or women). A total of 405 people were interviewed in 22 villages. Available lexicons were used to find correspondence to the vernacular/common names provided by inquired people. Five major Covid-19 symptoms including fever, headache, cough, dyspnea, cold/nasal discharge were identified by local people and 48 forest plants species were identified to prevent these symptoms, while 26 plant species were identified as treatment of specific Covid-19 symptoms. The frequent use of the various plant species for the prevention of the Covid-19 emerged as follow: Alstonia booneii (95%), Annickia chlorantha (72%), Picralima nitida (50%), Pycnanthus ivorensis (20%) and Milicia excelsa (16%). This study confirms the importance of forest plant species in traditional medicine against the Covid-19 pandemic.