Ethnobotanical survey of plants used by traditional health practitioners for treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders in Bandiagara, Mali, West Africa

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSchizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders are serious mental illnesses prevalent throughout the world. According to studies conducted in the district of Bandiagara, Mali, its prevalence varied from 1 to 3% of the population. Little is known, however, about the plants used to treat Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and the local concepts used by the traditional health practitioners. Aim of the studyTo document medicinal plant related knowledge and use in the management of locally salient behavioral syndromes in the district of Bandiagara in Mali, that show some similarity with the academic concept of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders. Material and methodsThis explorative study was based on qualitative research methods (using face-to-face interviews, a semi-structured questionnaire, discussions, field notes). During two months of field research, an exploratory ethnobotanical survey was conducted in 17 villages in the district of Bandiagara. Ethnobotanical data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, voucher collections and field walks in order to register the plant species used and the management of the traditional health practitioners on local syndromes that show similarity with the modern concept of schizophrenia. Results20 traditional health practitioners were interviewed. Local syndromes that show similarity with the academic concept of schizophrenia spectrum disorders were: igne (wind), guire (witchcraft), ogouloubelem (spirits of the bush), yebin (dwarf spirits), yapilin (spirits of dead pregnant women), amba wede (the madness of god), wede welewele (hot madness), wede kalal (cold madness) and wede pirou (true madness). Causes mentioned were the attack by Spirits of various kinds, bad luck, witchcraft and natural causes. The traditional treatment reported by traditional medicine practitioners included 41 plant species belonging to 19 plant families, among which Leguminosae was the most represented family with nine plants followed by Combretaceae, Apocyanaceae and Moraceae with three plants each. Securidaca longipedunculata Fresen. (Polygalaceae) was the plant used by most traditional health practitioners (17) followed by Khaya senegalensis (Desv.) A. Juss. (Meliaceae) (9), Boscia angustifolia A. Rich (Capparaceae) (5) and Annona senegalensis Pers. (Annonaceae) (4). It is noteworthy that the plants most commonly used were already or almost extinct from the Dogon country. ConclusionThis study gathered information on the local understanding of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, their causes and treatments given by the traditional health practitioners in Dogonland. Based on a literature survey on the plants used by the traditional health practitioners, evidence was found for interesting biological effects for the traditional use of some of the plants used. The traditional health practitioners were aware that several of the plant species were extinct or almost so in Dogonland. Measures need to be taken to counteract extinction threats to ensure a sustainable supply of raw material for the traditional treatment of schizophrenia in Dogonland.