Medicinal plant knowledge of ethnic groups in Douala town, Cameroon

Abstract

Plants have traditionally been used as a source of medicine in Cameroon since early times for the control of various ailments afflicting humans and their domestic animals. However, little work has been made in the past to properly document and promote the knowledge. Today medicinal plants and the associated knowledge in the country are threatened due to deforestation, environmental degradation and acculturation. Urgent ethnobotanical studies and subsequent conservation measures are, therefore, required to salvage these resources from further loss. The purpose of the present study was to record and analyse traditional medicinal plant knowledge of ethnic groups in Douala town, Cameroon. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with informants of 75 households selected during transect walks made to houses as well as those identified as knowledgeable and elders to gather data regarding local names of medicinal plants used, parts harvested, ailments treated, remedy preparation methods, administration routes, dosage and side effects. Purposive sampling method was used in the selection of study sites within the study region. The study revealed 94 medicinal plants that belonged to 46 families and 84 genera. The majority of medicinal plants were herbs and leaf was the most frequently used part in the preparation of remedies. Significantly higher average number of medicinal plants was claimed by men, older people and illiterate ones as compared to women, younger people and literate ones, respectively. The majority of the medicinal plants used in the study area were uncultivated ones. The study revealed acculturation as the major threat to the continuation of the traditional medical practice in the study area. Awareness should, therefore, be created among the ethnic groups, especially the young ones, by concerned organizations and individuals regarding the usefulness of the practice.