Knowledge and Traditional Uses of Some Aromatic and Cosmetic Plants Species in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Abstract

The valorisation of plant genetic resources following the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) process of the Nagoya Protocol requires the mastery of traditional knowledge associated with their uses by local populations. The objectives of this study were to survey the aromatic or cosmetics plants species used by the populations and to collect information on the knowledge associated with their uses in the Western highlands of Cameroon. Ethnobotanical surveys were carried out in 12 localities, where 251 individuals, including 206 men and 45 women, whose ages ranged from 25 to 81 years were interviewed. Information on each of the plant species mentioned and their different uses were recorded. A total of 103 species in 81 genera and 46 families were cited for aromatic or cosmetic uses, of which the most represented were the Lamiaceae (18 species), Asteraceae, and Zingiberaceae (7 species each). The identified plants were grouped into four categories of use: medicinal (56.31%), cosmetic (10.68%), food (6.80%), and cultural (1.94%). Most of the species surveyed were herbaceous (66%) with leaves being the most used part. The diversity index values of the respondents showed 10 species that were very well known and used by the populations: Eryngium foetidum, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Ocimum gratissimum, Piper umbellatum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Aframomum melegueta, Citrus limon, Costus afer, Cyperus rotundus, and Mondia whitei. These species were mainly used for: cough, spiritual protection, sexual weakness, cysts, diabetes, prostate, rheumatism, filaria, insomnia, female sterility, jaundice, scabies, haemorrhoids, high blood pressure and asthma. The results obtained constitute a valuable source of information that can contribute to the establishment of value chains allowing the effective valorisation of species following the ABS process.