No documented study reports the ethnobotanical knowledge of the medicinal plants involved in the management of typhoid fever in Lubumbashi. This study aims to identify plants and recipes used by traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) in Lubumbashi to manage typhoid fever. The cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out on TMPs through a direct interview, making it possible to collect ethnobotanical data. Fifty TMPs consulted (sex ratio M / F = 2.5, age = 45 ± 11 years, experience: 20 ± 13 years) made it possible to list 57 plants. These taxa are mostly shrubs (52%), Microphanerophytes (52%), endemic to tropical Africa (32%), belonging to 28 botanical families dominated by Fabaceae and indicated in 47 other causes of consultation for which diarrhea comes first position. From these 57 plants derived, 67 anti-typhoid recipes were administered orally. The stem bark was the most used part (33%), and the decoction (72%) was the most common preparation method. This study reports for the first time the ethnobotanical anti-typhoidal use of 25 species, among which Ficus sur Forssk. (0.22), and Monotes katangensis DeWild (0.18) has the highest consensus indexes (CI) and Diplorhynchus condylocarpon (Müll.Arg.) Pichona (UVp = 0.19) followed by Albizia antunesiana Harmsa (0.17), the highest usual values (UVp). TMPs use several plants in Lubumbashi to treat typhoid fever. Some are specific to the ecological environment, and others are used in other regions of the continent. Pharmacological studies are underway to assess the therapeutic efficacy of lesser-known plants among those listed.
This study was carried out to evaluate the aphrodisiac and antioxidant activities of aqueous and methanolic extracts of two plants used as aphrodisiac in traditional medicine in Kampemba municipality, in Lubumbashi DR Congo. Aqueous and methanolic root bark extracts of both Albizia adianthifolia and Pericopsis angolensis were administered orally to male Cavia porcellus before evaluating their physical behavior in the presence of females and their testosterone, cholesterol and triglyceride contents. The antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH method. At 200 and 250 mg kg-1 body weight (bw), the extracts exhibited a decrease in rise time and intromission time and an increase in ejaculation time, ascending frequency, intromission frequency, ejaculation frequency and testosterone compared to the control group that received sildenafil (10 mg kg-1 bw) used as a reference. A positive relationship between testosterone level and antioxidant activity has also been observed. The aphrodisiac and antioxidant activity observed in the two species justify their uses in traditional medicine as aphrodisiacs. Further work is needed in order to proceed to the isolation and the identification of the active compounds.
Dialium angolense is used in traditional medicine in Bagira-Bukavu in the management of malaria. In this study, in vivo antiplasmodial and in vitro antioxidant activities, phytochemical screening of secondary metabolic and in vivo toxicological studies where carried out on aqueous and methanolic extracts of its leaves. The plant was selected following an ethnobotanical survey conducted in DR Congo and focusing on antimalarial plants. Extracts’ phytochemical secondary metabolites were determined using standard procedures and the antiplasmodial activity was evaluated using 4-day suppressive test, while antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH assay. In acute toxicity, eighteen animal (6/group) were given orally singular 2000 mg of extract/kg body weight (BW) then observed for 14 days. In sub-acute toxicity assay, 150 or 300 mg/kg BW/Day were given orally, and animals (6/group) were observed for 28 days. The total phenolic (0.89 - 0.98 mg GAEg-1), total flavonoid (0.42 - 0.44 mg QEg-1) and total tannin contents (0.080 – 0.098 mg GAEg-1) were in the same rate in the two extracts as well as the antioxidant activity with IC50 value 6.1 and 6.8 μg/mL. At the highest oral dose, 300 mg/kg body weight, all extracts produced 70.4–70.8% chemo-suppression against P. berghei ANKA and 28 survival days. No deaths were recorded during the acute toxicity assay suggesting the LD50 > 2000 mg/kg and no abnormal behavior or variation in toxicity biomarkers were observed during the subacute toxicity assessment. D. angolense leaves extracts showed a great antiplasmodial and a very good antioxidant activity. It can be used to prepare antimalarial recipe or isolate antimalarial compounds in the future.
A survey was conducted online from December 30, 2020 to January 21, 2021, among the population of Lubumbashi city, to assess Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. The resource persons were self-selected at random, to have freely accepted to answer the online questionnaire. A total of 487 people (50.7% of women), with an average age of 28.3 ± 7.7 years, were interviewed. Overall, 98.2% said they were aware of COVID-19. This knowledge comes from several sources dominated by television (42.7%). Several respondents (71.9%) admitted to being afraid of human-to-human transmission of COVID-19; while 72.1% hope that this disease will stop one day. Protective practices against COVID-19 contamination are dominated by wearing a surgical mask, social distancing and hand washing (66.9%). Self-medication either with medicinal plants or with conventional drugs are the most recommended practices by the questioned people, in case of symptoms related to COVID-19 (70.6%). Most medicinal plants [predominated by Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (45.9%, n = 344)] and conventional drugs [predominantly aspirin (41.5%; n = 41)], cited in this case, are reported in various studies as being used in the management of patients with COVID-19. In general, the KAPs observed vary considerably according to the gender and study level of the questioned people. The level of knowledge about COVID-19 among the population of Lubumbashi seems satisfactory and its management acceptable. Practices to control the COVID-19 symptom are predominated by the use of both conventional and non-conventional medicine. However, sensitization of the population of Lubumbashi for a better knowledge and adequate management of this virus is desirable.
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