Ethno-botanical survey and ecological study of anti-pathogenic organisms medicinal plants species used in the Congolese folk medicine

Abstract

Ethno-pharmacological relevance: An ethno-botanical survey was conducted among traditional healers in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo in order to identify plant species used in folk medicine to treat parasitic and infectious diseases. Materials and methods: Forty traditional healers from different ethnic groups were interviewed about plants used in Congolese folk medicine to treat parasitic and infectious diseases in Kinshasa. Cited plants were collected and identified at Herbarium of the Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa. Their ecological status was also determined. Results: Fifty plant species were collected out of which phanerophytes predominate (40 species). 78.7% of herbal remedies are prepared by aqueous decoction. 91.2% of recipes are administered to patients by oral route. 58.0% of used medicinal plants are Guinean species. Stem bark is the most used part and Malaria and Amibiasis are the most treated diseases (56.0%). Rubiaceae species were the most cited medicinal plants indicating high utility value of these species for the local community. Conclusion: Herbal remedies used against pathogenic organisms in Kinshasa, DR Congo are widely administered as aqueous decoctions. Chemical and pharmacological studies of some of these preparations are in progress and might lead to medically interesting anti-tropical diseases herbal remedies. Promoting ex-situ conservation of some of these medicinal plants endemic to DRC through in vitro cell culture will permit to conserve these biological resources.