Garcinia Lucida Research Articles

Antihypertensive effect of the stem bark aqueous extract of Garcinia lucida Vesque (Clusiaceae) in L-NAME-treated rats: Contribution of endothelium-dependent and -independent vasorelaxation

Garcinia lucida is used in Cameroonian folk medicine to handle a variety of ailments, including arterial hypertension. This study aimed at determining the phytochemical profile and the antihypertensive effect of the stem bark aqueous extract of G. lucida (AEGL). AEGL was subjected to LC-MS analysis, and its effect (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg/day; by gavage) was evaluated against Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 40 mg/kg)-induced hypertension in adult male Wistar rats for four consecutive weeks. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored weekly using tail-cuff plethysmography. The vasorelaxant effect of cumulative concentrations (3–10–30–100–300 μg/mL) of AEGL was examined on endothelium-intact and denuded thoracic aorta rings which were precontracted with KCl (90 mM) or norepinephrine (NE; 10−5 M), and in the absence or presence of L-NAME (10−4 M), indomethacin (10−5 M), methylene blue (10−6 M), tetraethylammonium (TEA, 5 × 10−6 M), glibenclamide (10 × 10−6 M) or propranolol (5 × 10−6 M). The influence of AEGL on the response to NE, KCl, and CaCl2 was also investigated. Six compounds, including Garcinia biflavonoids GB1 and GB2, were identified. AEGL prevented the development of hypertension (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) without affecting the heart rate. AEGL induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of aortic rings precontracted with NE (EC50 = 7.915 μg/mL) that was significantly inhibited by the removal of the endothelium, L-NAME, or methylene blue (p < 0.05–0.001). Indomethacin, propranolol, TEA, and glibenclamide did not affect AEGL-evoked vasorelaxation. Preincubation of aortic rings with AEGL reduced the magnitude of contraction elicited by CaCl2 but did not alter that of KCl or NE. AEGL possesses an antihypertensive effect that is mediated by both endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent mechanisms. The activation of the NO/sGC/cGMP pathway accounts for the endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. These pharmacological effects of AEGL could be attributed to the presence of the Garcinia biflavonoids GB1 and GB2.

Macroscopic and Microscopic Modifications of Wood after Debarking of Trees in the South Cameroon

Wounding of trees by debarking has been reported to form a callus tissue. This work aims to investigate macroscopic and microscopic modifications of wood after the removal of barks in Alstonia boonei, Scorodophloeus zenkeri, and Garcinia lucida. Species that are not yet barking were wounded to conducting experimental debarking. The wound was rectangular with 30 cm vertically with a lateral extent of 10 cm. Every three months, there was a follow-up for fifteen months during which the macroscopic and microscopic phenomena were observed and recorded. Microsections of 15&amp;ndash;20 &amp;mu;m thickness were taken on a piece of wood from the regenerated and intact wood, with a sledge microtome. Staining of cell walls was done with safranin and fast green to increase contrast in an anatomical slide. Analyzes of the variability of xylem anatomical features were done by semi-automatic measurements using the SpectrumSee digital image analysis software. The speed of recovery of the bark of these three species is 9.04 cm/year for A. boonei, 5.9 cm/year for S. zenkeri, and 3.85 cm/year for G. lucida. The recovery of A. boonei&amp;rsquo;s bark is the fastest, and it just takes 15 months to heal its wound. Densities of vessels were 8, 38, and 17 per mm&amp;sup2;, respectively, for the wood of A. boonei, S. zenkeri, and G. lucida before barking. These values increased for A. boonei (26) and G. lucida (20) except for S. zenkeri (25). In all species, the diameter of the vessels has decreased in the regenerated wood. Management practices that enhance the monitoring of sustainable harvesting levels of species and promote alternative plants for the same uses should be considered as part of conservation strategies.

The Aqueous Extract from the Stem Bark of Garcinia lucida Vesque (Clusiaceae) Exhibits Cardioprotective and Nephroprotective Effects in Adenine-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease in Rats.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious health problem with high morbidity and mortality, mainly attributable to cardiovascular risk. Garcinia lucida is traditionally used in Cameroon for the management of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardioprotective and nephroprotective effects of the aqueous extract from the stem bark of G. lucida (AEGL). The in vitro antioxidant effect of AEGL was assessed at concentrations ranging 1–300 μg/mL against DPPH, lipid peroxidation, and AAPH-induced hemolysis. The reducing power and phenolic and flavonoids contents were also determined. CKD was induced by intraperitoneal bolus injection of adenine (50 mg/kg/day) for 4 consecutive weeks to male Wistar rats. AEGL (150 and 300 mg/kg/day) or captopril (20 mg/kg/day) was concomitantly administered with adenine per os. Bodyweight and blood pressure were monitored at baseline and weekly during the test. At the end of the experiment, plasma creatinine, urea, AST, and ALT were quantified. Proteinuria, creatinine excretion, and creatinine clearance were also assessed. The effect on GSH, CAT, and SOD activity was evaluated in cardiac and renal homogenates. Sections of the heart and kidney were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. AEGL exhibited a potent in vitro antioxidant activity and was shown to possess a large amount of phenolic compounds. Adenine alone increased blood pressure, cardiac and kidney mass, proteinuria, protein to creatinine ratio, plasma creatinine, AST, and urea levels (p < 0.05, 0.01, and 0.001). Besides, the bodyweight and creatinine clearance were significantly reduced (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). All these alterations were blunted by the plant extract, except the bodyweight loss. In addition, AEGL improved GSH levels and CAT and SOD activities. AEGL attenuated adenine-induced glomerular necrosis, tubular dilatation, and cardiac inflammation. AEGL exhibits cardioprotective and nephroprotective effects that may be ascribed to its antihypertensive and antioxidant activities.

In vitro antibacterial and antibiotic-potentiation activities of five edible plant extracts and mode of action against several MDR Gram-negative phenotypes

Abstract Background: Bacterial infections involving the multidrug resistant (MDR) strains are among the top leading causes of death throughout the world. Healthcare system across the globe has been suffering from an extra-ordinary burden in terms of looking for the new and more potent antimicrobial compounds. The aim of the present study was to determine the antibacterial activity of some Cameroonian edible plants (Garcinia lucida bark, Phoenix dactylifera pericarps, Theobroma cacao pod, Solanum macrocarpon leaves and Termitomyces titanicus whole plant) and their antibiotics-potentiation effects against some MDR Gram-negative bacteria phenotypes expressing efflux pumps (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Providencia stuartii strains). Methods: The antibacterial activities of plant extract alone and in combination with usual antibiotics were carried out using the micro-dilution method. The effects of the most active plant extract (Garcinia lucida bark) on H+-ATPase-mediated proton pumps and on bacterial growth kinetic were performed using experimental protocols, while qualitative reference methods were used to highligh the major groups of secondary metabolites present in the extracts. Results: Qualitative phytochemical screening of plant extracts indicated that all analysed secondary metabolites were present in Theobroma cacao and Termitomyces titanicus while one (saponins) of them was absent in Garcinia lucida and Solanum macrocarpon. Only three of them (polyphenols, flavonoids and saponins) were detected in Phoenix dactylifera. Antibacterial essays showed that G. lucida was the most active plant as it inhibited the growth of all studied bacteria with strong activity (MIC&lt;100 µg/mL) against E. coli ATCC8739, significant activity (100≤MIC≤512 µg/mL) against 80% of bacteria and moderate activity (512&lt;MIC≤2048 µg/mL) against E. coli AG100A and E. aerogenes (EA289 and CM64). It was followed by T. cacao and S. macrocarpon extracts which exhibited an antibacterial potential against 95% and 80% of bacterial strains, respectively. These three extracts exhibited a bactericidal effect on a few bacteria. Extracts from T. titanicus and P. dactylifera were less active as they moderately (512&lt;MIC≤2048 µg/mL) inhibited the growth of 35% and 10% of bacteria. All extracts selectively potentiated the activities of all antibiotics with improvement activity factors (IAF) ranging from 2 to 256. G. lucida, T. cacao and S. macrocarpon potentiated the activities of 100%, 89% and 67% of antibiotics respectively against more than 70%, suggesting that they contain bioactive compounds which could be considered as efflux pumps inhibitors. Whereas T. titanicus and P. dactylifera improved the activities of almost 40% and 20% of antibiotics, respectively. This increase of activities also characterizes synergistic effects between antibiotics and these bioactive compounds. G. lucida extract at all tested concentrations, strongly inhibited the growth of bacterial strain E. coli ATCC8739 and exhibited an inhibitory effect on this bacterial H+-ATPase-mediated proton pumps increasing the pH of the medium. Conclusion: The overall results indicated that food plants among which G. lucida, T. cacao and S. macrocarpon could have a benefit interest in combatting resistant types of bacteria. Keywords: Food plants; infectious diseases; MDR bacteria; efflux pumps; antibiotics; secondary metabolites.

Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities of Three Medicinal Plants from Cameroon (Alstonia boonei, Cassia alata and Garcinia lucida) Against Diarrhea

Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities of Three Medicinal Plants from Cameroon (Alstonia boonei, Cassia alata and Garcinia lucida) Against Diarrhea

The use of traditional ecological knowledge in sustainable use and management of plant resource through a community-based and participatory assessment

This study was carried out on a community-based and participatory field-based experiment, combining traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and scientific knowledge, with the aim of defining criteria for sustainable harvest prescriptions for Garcinia lucida bark, focusing on its profitability, acceptability and ecological sustainability. Bark harvesting process was documented by monitoring 35 bark gatherers, who have provided accurate information on habitat, density, recruitment, seed predator of G. lucida species that matched well information found with ecological studies. TEK have provided useful information on the species geographical distribution that could serve as important tools in resource mapping and management. Based on the harvest practices experimental records and using TEK, bark gatherers have recommended a strip of 1/3 or 2/3 of tree circumference, by peeling off bark using machete, for household consumption; or ring-barked or felling trees for commercial proposes; a selection of larger trees and a repeat harvest on the same tree after complete bark recovery. Few gatherers, who started planting G. lucida in their coco-farm, showed real interest in applying these harvest prescriptions. However, the open-access status of wild stands constituted the most vulnerable point in applying these prescriptions. This study results have direct bearing on attempts towards sustainable resource use and adaptive management incorporating current ecological knowledge into participatory forest and resource management planning and regulations.© 2017 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Garcinia lucida bark, multiple-used plant species, traditional ecological knowledge, sustainable harvesting, community-based and participatory management

Strategies towards sustainable bark sourcing as raw material for plant-based drug development: a case study on &lt;i&gt;Garcinia lucida&lt;/i&gt; tree species

Objectives : To appraise the amount of sustainable bark stripped and time to complete bark recovery as basis for sourcing of raw materials for plant-based drugs Methodology and Results : A two-year experiment was conducted and several local harvest practices were tested on Garcinia lucida (named Essok in Boulou language). For each harvest method, 20 healthy trees were selected and harvested. Tree health was monitored every month and the total bark regrowth was calculated using planimetric techniques. The mean bark mass was 2.54 kg/tree (range, 0.5-15 kg/tree; SD, 2.40; n=80) and increased with bark thickness, ranging from 1.28 kg tree-1 (0.4-0.8 cm thin) to 4.38 kg tree-1(1.2 – 1.8 cm thick). The mean rate of bark regeneration was 787±601 cm²/tree/year (range, 452±166-1870±1042 cm²/tree/yr; n=53) and positively correlated to harvest method (p < 0.01) and surface debarked (p < 0.05). Standard Deviation values were higher, suggesting that each tree had its proper bark growth rate patterns, and that bark regrowth process may be tree-specific and strongly correlated to intrinsic factors. Conclusions and application of findings : Peeling off pieces of bark using a machete and debarking over 1/3 of the stem circumference at breast height, once every 3 years for small trees or every 5 years for large trees, has been found to be the best harvest method for G. lucida species. This is to tackle the challenge of availability of raw material and harvest sustainability. As the increased trade and processing of bark has shifted from subsistence use to large-scale commercial use, posing a threat to supply of raw material and species conservation, sustainable harvesting methods should constitute important tools of the guidelines on good collection practices for medicinal plants that would help to ensure safety and quality at the first and most important stage of the harvest of medicinal plants. This study has provided information on the species-specific bark harvest prescriptions to assist in developing such guidelines, thereby promoting the processing and trade of the most valued medicinal species for plant-based drug development in Africa. Keywords : Garcinia lucida , medicinal plant, bark, raw material, sustainable bark stripping.

Vegetative propagation of Garcinia lucida Vesque (Clusiaceae) using leafy stem cuttings and grafting

Garcinia lucida Vesque (Clusiaceae) is a tree species that is highly valued for its medicinal properties by rural households in the humid forest zone of Cameroon. However, the unsustainable exploitation of the species threatens its long-term regeneration. This study focuses on its vegetative propagation via stem cuttings in non-mist propagators and through grafting. The study tests the effects of three rooting media (sand, sawdust, sand + sawdust (1/1); three leaf sizes (0,25 and 50 cm2); and three types of hormone [indole butyric acid (IBA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)], applied as a single dose. Furthermore, three grafting techniques (cleft, side tongue and whip-and-tongue grafting) were tested. All experiments were designed as completely randomized blocks with three replicates. Results showed that cuttings require a medium that has low water holding capacity and high porosity, and a leaf area of 50 cm2 and NAA treatment; grafting success was affected by the technique used, with top cleft grafting yielding a 100% success rate. From this preliminary study, it is concluded that G. lucida is amenable to vegetative propagation by cuttings and grafting. Key words: tree domestication, leaf area, non-mist propagator, rooting hormone, rooting medium, under-utilised species

&lt;i&gt;Garcinia lucida&lt;/i&gt; Vesque (Clusiaceae): from traditional uses to pharmacopeic monograph for an emerging local plant-based drug development

Objectives: This paper seeks to assess information on the identity, traditional uses, safety and efficacy of Garcinia lucida Vesque (Essok in Boulou and Ewondo local language), in order to highlight it potential as species to be registered in medicinal plant list and formularies needed for the development of monographs leading to local production of phytomedicines. Methodology and Results: Ethnobotanical survey was carried in the Bipindi-Akom II region (South Cameroon) with the help of interviews based on standardised questionnaires addressed to key-informants. Bark and seeds were the major parts used, highly appreciated due to its properties in preventing consumers from poison, diarrhoea and headaches. The most important therapeutic indications were additive to palm wine, antidote to poisoning, gastritis and snake bite. Other uses in treating included gynaecological pains and infections, sexual diseases and cancers. The bark was also believed by local people to act on the stability of chemical antibiotic drugs in pharmacy, while leaves were used as insect repellent against mosquitoes and cockroaches. Conclusions and application of findings: As an additive in palm wine processing, poisoning antidote, aphrodisiac and medicines, bark and seeds are widely used in the Bipindi-Lolodorf-Akom II area, in the Centre and South regions of Cameroon, in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, in Central Africa and West Africa. This similarity of use across many regions is considered as important biological activity marker tools guiding plant parts or species selection in drug discovery and development using ethnopharmacological approach. Through the ethnobotanical and biological tests, assessed, accurate information is provided to substantiate safety and efficacy of G. lucida and to satisfy the requirements of official compendia such as pharmacopoeia. Further studies are needed to understand the effects of bark and seeds as additive to palm wine, as well as the interaction between bark and chemical antibiotic drugs. Keywords: Garcinia lucida , traditional uses, medicinal plant list, monograph, pharmacopoeia, phytomedicine production

Tree response to bark harvest: the case of a medicinal species, &lt;i&gt;Garcinia lucida&lt;/i&gt;, as source of raw materials for plant-based drug development

Objectives: There is a huge demand for medicinal bark in developing countries and this demand is growing fast due to it high market values. To assess the effects of bark functions and tree capacities to recover from various debarking practices, a two-year experiment was conducted and several local harvest practices were tested on Garcinia lucida.Methodology and Results: For each practice, 20 healthy trees were selected and harvested. Tree health was monitored every month and the total bark regrowth was calculated using planimetric techniques. In response to bark removal, G. lucida trees produced stilt-roots, sprouts and bark. Re-growth of bark was the most common strategy developed, with mean values ranging from 80 to 100% of trees. All stumps have developed sprouts, with an average number of 6 shoots per stump. The percentage of bark regrowth varies from 45 to 62% of the initial surface debarked for small trees and from 24 to 37% for large trees. A high rate of bark regeneration was found if narrow strips of bark remained on trees, from which bark was hardly removed from wood during harvest, probably characterized physiologically by a downward sap flow due to poor water supply in trees.Conclusions and application of findings: The study has discussed main findings on the experimental debarking of G. lucida and management implications, which would also apply to other species with the same response to bark stripping as source of raw materials for plant-based drug prospects in developing countries. Bark strip harvesting requires species-specific parameters to make it sustainable, taking into account : (i) the bark regeneration capacity (edge growth), which may allow repeated harvest on the same tree; and (ii) the physiological status (downward sap flow) of the tree at the time of harvest, as decisive factor triggering bark regrowth. Partial bark strip harvesting show good prospects for the implementation of long-term sustainable strip harvesting prescriptions, while sustainable stripping through ring-barking practice is unsuitable. Shoot growth and stilt-root development in G. lucida species allows for other management options than strip harvesting, including coppice management and domestication. However, there are major limitations in using regenerated bark, as the time required to re-attain preharvest bark thickness, as well as the chemical composition due to stress releasing mechanisms remain unknown.Keywords: medicinal bark regrowth, harvest practices, plant-based drug prospects, species recovering capacity, sprouting capacity

Comparison of in vitro antioxidant properties of extracts from three plants used for medical purpose in Cameroon: Acalypha racemosa, Garcinia lucida and Hymenocardia lyrata

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the in vitro antiradical and antioxidant properties of methanol extracts of Garcinia lucida, Hymenocardia lyrata (H. lyrata) and Acalypha racemosa. Methods We determined the in vitro antioxidant activity and the total phenolic content, and performed the phytochemical screening of the extracts from fruits, barks, leaves, roots and stems of these plants using standard procedures. Results The results of the antioxidant properties showed that more than 60% of DPPH., NO. and HO. radicals were inhibited by the extracts. The radical scavenging activity, the total antioxidant capacity as well as the reducing power increased with the concentration of the extracts. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) varied from 1.46 to 21.65 μg/mL depending of the type of extract and the antioxidant tests. The results indicated that all the extracts exhibited antioxidant properties and the roots of H. lyrata showed the best antioxidant activity [(217.17±9.45) mg Equivalent catechin/g of extract] while the highest total phenol content was found in its barks [(169.782±3.025) mg Eq cat/g of extract]. Conclusions The methanol extract of H. lyrata possess the most antioxidant property among the three extracts.

The in-vitro antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants against β-lactam-resistant bacteria

In effort to identify novel bacterial agents, this study was initiated to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of 17 crude extracts from 12 medicinal plants against beta-lactam-resistant bacteria. The antimicrobial activities of plant extracts were evaluated against clinically proved beta-lactam-resistant bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus sp.) and reference strains of bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, Enterobacter aerogenes ATCC 29751, E. aerogenes ATCC 13048, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Enterococcus hirae ATCC 9790) by using disc-diffusion and agar-dilution assays. The crude plant extracts demonstrated broad spectrum activity against all bacteria tested with inhibition zones in the range of 8-30 mm. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of different plant extracts against the tested bacteria were found to range from <or= 0.3 to >or= 10 mg ml(-1). The most active plant extracts were from Dortenia picta and Bridelia micrantha (MIC: 1.25-10 mg ml(-1)) on beta-lactam-resistant Gram-negative bacilli and the extracts from B. micrantha, Mallotus oppositifolius, Garcinia lucida, Garcinia. kola, Campylospermum densiflorum (leaves) and C. zenkeri (root) on beta-lactam-resistant Gram-positive cocci (MIC: <or= 0.3-5 mg ml(-1)). Of the 17 plant extracts studied, seven showed good antimicrobial activity against the tested bacteria. The stem bark of B. micrantha and the leaves of D. picta were most active towards beta-lactamase producing Gram-negative bacilli. This study shows that medicinal plants could be sources of compounds which can be used to fight against beta-lactam resistant bacteria.

Screening of some medicinal plants from cameroon for β‐Lactamase inhibitory activity

In efforts to find new bioactive beta-lactamase inhibitors, this study investigated 16 Cameroonian plants belonging to 10 families which were evaluated for anti-beta-lactamase activity. The investigation showed that extracts 2, 6, 3 and 5 of the 16 plants investigated presented interesting in vitro beta-lactamase inhibition (over 90%), respectively, of the beta-lactamases TEM-1, OXA-10, IMP-1 and P99. These extracts were from Mammea africana (all beta-lactamases), Garcinia lucida, G. kola (OXA-10, IMP-1 and P99), Bridelia micrantha (OXA-10, P99), Ochna afzelii (OXA-10, P99), Prunus africana (IMP-1) and Adenia lobata (TEM-1). After elimination of tannins (according to the European Pharmacopoeia) the extracts from B. micrantha, G. lucida and M. africana were tested further for their anti-beta-lactamase activity. The extracts from B. micrantha and G. lucida exhibited potent inhibitory activity, respectively, of beta-lactamase OXA-10 (IC(50) = 0.02 mg/mL) and P99 (IC(50) = 0.01 mg/mL). The anti-beta-lactamase activity of M. africana extract was weak. The isolation and the structural elucidation of the active constituents of G. lucida and B. micrantha will provide useful leads in the development of beta-lactamase inhibitors.

Population dynamics of Garcinia lucida (Clusiaceae) in Cameroonian Atlantic forests

Garcinia lucida Vesque (Clusiaceae) is a highly valued non-timber forest tree. The bark and the seeds are exploited and commercialised for medicinal purposes and palm wine processing in Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The bark is often removed over almost the entire circumference of the stem, leading to high mortality. To identify the processes or the life stages that influence the population dynamics and to forecast the potential effects of harvesting, a demography study was carried and a matrix model was constructed to characterise the population dynamics of G. lucida in the South Cameroonian Atlantic humid forests. The study revealed that height and diameter growth values were very low and may constitute biological disadvantages for the dynamics of the species. The flowering and fruiting model, the absence of seed dormancy, and the high germination and seedling survival rates constituted advantages for the population dynamics, which is characterised by effective regeneration strategies. Rates of growth, survival and fecundity allowed calculations of transition probabilities of the matrix model. The value of the dominant eigenvalue ( λ) was 1.063, slightly higher than the value expected for stable populations. The sensitivities of λ to changes showed that the population growth was most sensitive to changes in tree growth, particularly in the seedling stage. Elasticity analysis showed that growth and fecundity elements had much lower contributions to λ, indicating that the harvesting of seeds may have a low impact on population growth. However, the population growth was highly sensitive to changes in survival probability, particularly among trees of 5–10 cm, diameter at breast height (dbh). The last stages, containing the large reproductive individuals over 10 cm dhb, which are interesting for the bark extraction, accounted for lowest elasticity, indicating that the extraction of bark may have at least a low impact on population growth. Thus, there maybe a good scope for sustainable extraction of G. lucida bark in these stages. The size-class 5–10 cm dbh proved by loop analysis to be the most important reproductive stage for population maintenance. However, individuals in this size-class are also exploited by forest gatherers, and increased exploitation pressure on trees in this size-class is likely to have a considerable impact on the population growth and to compromise the scope for sustainable exploitation of this resource.

Composition floristique et structure des formations à Garcinia lucida dans la région de Bipindi-Akom II (Sud-Cameroun)

The Bipindi-Akom II region in South-Cameroon belongs to the Biafran atlantic district of the Guineo-congolian domain of dense humid evergreen forests. Inside this vegetation unit, Garcinia lucida is a remarkable understorey gregarious species, growing in low-lying ground and on slope of some hills. Four localities in which this species occurs have been sampled and 36 common species have been identified forming the floristic composition of such plant community. Representative species are, in addition to Garcinia lucida, Treculia obovoidea, Coelocaryon preussii and Raphia regalis. The analysis of the different strata showed that Garcinia lucida is the main dominant species at the shrub layer. No dominant species have been found at the tree layer. The population structure in the four localities indicates the stability of these formation but also the low occurence of emergent trees inside these Garcinia lucida facies.

Utilisations traditionnelles de Garcinia lucida et Garcinia kola (Clusiaceae) au Cameroun

Traditional utilisation of Garcinia lucida and Garcinia kola (Clusiaceae) in Cameroon. Garcinia lucida and Garcinia kola (Clusiaceae) are common well-known forest species among local po- pulation in Cameroon due to their various medicinal properties. A study of the traditional uses and the harvesting practices of these two species permits to draw together their medicinal, social and economic potentials in order to promote their utilisation and long-term exploitation. Traditional medicines and foods are the main important use categories. The seeds and the bark are the most commonly used parts of these plant species. The seeds are generally gathered under the crown of reproductive trees while the extraction of bark almost always involved ringbarking trees, the extraction of root involved logging of trees. The density of G. lucida varies from 17 to 314 stems per hectare. The average number of G. kola trees is 0.4 stems per hectare. The proportion of trees dying after debarking ranked between 5 and 43% according to the exploited stands of G. lucida. The proportion of debarked and logged trees for G. kola was estimated about 43%. The size-class distribution exhibited by these two species shows a selective exploitation of the largest trees. The quantity of G. lucidafresh bark harvested was estimated at 15 kg per day and per collector. These results indicate a high exploitation pressure using destructive harvesting techniques which could lead to the resource depletion in the future.