Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used in Low and Middle - Guinea for the Treatment of Skin Diseases

Abstract

From an ethnobotanical survey conducted in Low and Middle Guinea, 98 traditional healers and 76 herbalists were interviewed. An increasing involvement of female as traditional practitioners was observed, particularly in Low Guinea where they represented 57% (62/109) of the total traditional practitioners specialized in the treatment of skin diseases. A total of 104 plant species were listed. Of these, 96 from 87 genera and 38 families were identified for the treatment of various skin diseases. Fabaceae was the most represented family while the most cited plant species (28 to 17 times) were Uvaria chamae, Uvariopsis guineensis, Alchornea cordifolia, Sarcocephalus esculentus, Cassia sieberiana. The most cited plant parts were leaves 57% (79/139), root-bark 17% (24/139) and stem-bark 13% (18/139). The proportions of plant species were 24% (35/146) for the treatments of impetigo, 22% (32 /146) for scabies, 8% (12/146) for prurigo and eczema, 7% (11/146) for ringworm etc. The decoction and the maceration were the most used in the preparation forms of the recipes. Further research is needed to isolate and identify the active compounds and understand their biological activities.