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Aim: Obesity is a public health problem on a global and national scale. It is associated with high blood pressure, type II diabetes and certain metabolic complications. In Cameroon, obesity is observed in both rural and urban population where the people are still very attached to traditional values to solve their health problems. The present study was aimed at determining antiobesity medicinal plants used by the traditional healers in the Foumban and Dschang Municipalities. Methodology: An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used against obesity was conducted in 2 localities, Foumban and Dschang, of the western region of Cameroon. The questionnaire was submitted and the information was collected via oral interviews with traditional healers and the people of the localities who benefited from anti-obesity treatments based on medicinal plants. Results: Twenty five medicinal plants belonging to 16 families and used in the management of obesity were identified. Leaves and bark are the most used plant parts; they are followed by fruits (seeds) and Roots. Most herbal remedies are prepared as decoction in Foumban (30%) and Dschang (62%) respectively. The most common plant used by these people was Solanum indicum (49.27%, Foumban) and Tetrapleura tetraptera (40%, Dschang). Conclusion: Relatively to the management of obesity with medicinal plants, the population of these localities presented interesting knowledge. However, there is still a need for further pharmacological and phytochemical investigations of the above common and most used ones.

Aim: The fruit of Solanum indicum Linn have been reported traditionally to have anti-hypertensive and diuretic properties. This study was undertaken to evaluate the toxicological potential of S. indicum fruits aqueous extract through the acute and sub-acute toxicity tests in rats. Methodology: For acute toxicity evaluation, a single oral dose of 5000 mg/kg of the plant extract was administrated in 60 days old female albino Wistar rats. Then, the animals were observed for 14 days. Sub-acute toxicity studies were conducted with 50 adult rats of both gender that orally received during 28 days, increasing doses of the plant extract. Their body weight and food intake were weekly collected. At the end of the experiment, biochemical and hematological parameters as well as histological analysis of organs (liver, kidneys and spleen) were undertaken. Results: Single oral administration of 5000 mg/kg dose of the fruit plant aqueous extract produced no mortality or signs of toxicity. During sub-acute test, no variations in body weight and food intake of both animals gender were observed. An important decrease in male’s rat liver weight were obtained at the dose 25 mg/kg; serum urea, total cholesterol, TAG, ALP and AST levels were significantly lowered in male especially at the dose 50 mg/kg, but this decrease was noticed only in serum urea, ALP and ALT in female rats. Furthermore, a significant decrease in platelets number, serum PCT, MPV and PDW levels were recorded in all treated male rats except those receiving the highest extract dose. No structural changes in treated animal organs section histology were observed when compared to controls. Conclusion: The fruits aqueous extracts of S. indicum is safe when administered acutely and for 28 days in rats. However, alterations on their hematological and biochemical parameters were not closely related with the dose, implying caution on its use.