Ethnopharmacological study of anti-diabetic plants sold on the markets of Abidjan, Côte D’ivoire

Abstract

In the search for plants able to fight against diabetes, we have initiated an ethnopharmacological survey on the markets of the city of Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire. The markets of three communes in the city were visited for this purpose: Yopougon, Abobo and Adjamé. In Yopougon, we visited Wassakara market. The large Abobo market and the Gouro market were respectively chosen for Abobo and Adjamé. This choice was justified by an impressive number of medicinal plants sellers in these markets. The survey interviewed 120 herbalists on the basis of a questionnaire sheet. These investigations revealed 27 species of plants used in traditional medicine, in the treatment of diabetes. These plant species belong to 20 botanical families with four strongly represented which are Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Rubiaceae. Three parts of plants are indicated by herbalists in the treatment of diabetes: leaves, twigs and whole plant. The preparation techniques are decoction and kneading. The preparations are used for drinking and purging by diabetic people. In relation to citation frequencies, two plants are regularly used. They are Phyllantus amarus (Fc = 9.86%) and Nauclea latifolia (Fc = 9.49%). These two plants were frequently encountered during our surveys. They are the most important species indicated against diabetes by Abidjan population. Both of these species of plant should be subject of other studies to prove the scientific basis of their empirical use in traditional medicine.