Ethnomycological study in the Kilum-Ijim mountain forest, Northwest Region, Cameroon

Abstract

BackgroundMajority of the people in rural areas depend on traditional fungi-based medicines to combat different illnesses. This ethnomycological survey was undertaken to document the traditional knowledge of mushrooms among the communities in the Kilum-Ijim mountain forest reserve. Although macrofungi are exploited for food and medicine, their ethnomycological knowledge has not been documented in this ecosystem.MethodsA field study was carried out between 2014 and 2015; 14 mushrooms used by the local communities were collected and identified using the polymorphism of the ribosomal ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2 regions. Semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and pictorial method were used to collect information on edibility, local names, indigenous knowledge, and the role of macrofungi in ten communities.ResultsEthnomycological findings revealed that mushrooms were used as food and medicine, while the non-edible species were regarded as food from Satan. Eight species, Polyporus tenuiculus, Termitomyces striatus, Termitomyces microcarpus Auricularia polytricha, Laetiporus sulphureus, Termitomyces sp.1, Termitomyces sp.2, and Polyporus dictyopus, were reported as edible and Auricularia polytricha, Daldinia concentrica, Ganoderma applanatum, Lentinus squarrosulus, Polyporus dictyopus, Termitomyces microcarpus, Trametes versicolor, Vascellum pretense and Xylaria sp., were used as medicine in traditional health care. Local names were found to be a very important factor in distinguishing between edible, medicinal, and poisonous mushrooms. Edible mushrooms are called “awo’oh” in Belo and “Kiwoh” in Oku. Poisonous mushrooms were commonly referred to as “awo’oh Satan” in Belo and “Kiwohfiyini” in Oku. Mushrooms were highly valued as a source of protein and as a substitute for meat in their diets. It is worth noting that Polyporus dictyopus was reported here for the first time in literature as an edible mushroom species.ConclusionLocal knowledge of medicinal mushrooms in the treatment of different illness still exists in all ten villages surveyed. Elderly men and women appear to play an important role in primary health care services in these communities. This survey underscores the need to preserve and document traditional knowledge of the different medicinal mushrooms used in treating different illnesses and for more future scientific research on the mushrooms to determine their efficacy and their safety.

Molecular Phylogeny of Polyporales from Bafut Forest, Cameroon and Their Importance to Rural Communities

“…For example, Trametes elegans and Trametes hisurta were evolutionary related to species from Cameroon previously reported by Douanla-Meli (2007) from the Mbalmayo Forest Reserve, Trametes elegans had been reported by Kinge et al (2013) in the Mount Cameroon Region specifically in the localities of Idenau, Bafia and Ekona. Trametes sanguinea and Trametes hirsuta found in this study had been reported by Teke et al (2017) on macro fungal diversity in the Kilum-Ijim forest, Cameroon. In this study Trametes sanguinea was related to species from U.S.A. Favolus acervatus was related to species from China.…”

“…This species was identified only by morphology as it is relatively easy to identify. This species was also reported to be edible by Teke et al (2018) on ethnomycological study in the Kilum-Ijim mountain forest, North West region of Cameroon. Species from the genus Microporus, Trametes and Ganoderma have also been reported to be medicinal by other authors in different ethnomycological studies.…”

“…For example; the works of Kinge & Mih (2015), who worked on diversity and distribution of species of Ganoderma in south western Cameroon, the work of Kinge et al (2013) on the first checklist of macrofungi in the mount Cameroon region. Also, Teke et al (2017) on macro fungal diversity in the Kilum Ijim forest, North West region of Cameroon in which polypores were identified together with other macrofungi.…”

Biodiversité des macrochampignons sauvages comestibles de la forêt humide du Sud-Cameroun

“…Depuis des millénaires en Chine et chez les Romains, et depuis plusieurs siècles chez les communautés sédentaires Bantou et les peuples autochtones nomades des forêts humides d'Afrique centrale, les champignons sauvages comestibles (CSC) constituent d'excellentes ressources alimentaires primaires, surtout en périodes de soudure, et secondairement médicinales (Boa, 2006 ;Eyi et al, 2014). Dans ce contexte, la collecte, la consommation et l'utilisation des champignons sous-tendent des pratiques traditionnelles et culturelles très anciennes Boa, 2006 ;Teke et al, 2018). Cependant, les communautés de macrochampignons sauvages comestibles du Cameroun, qui représentent une des plus importantes sources de biodiversité alimentaire, restent faiblement valorisées et leurs connaissances peu capitalisées.…”

“…Plusieurs études ont rapporté la quantité de champignons sauvages consommés en Tanzanie et à travers le monde (Rammeloo et Walleyn, 1993 ;Härkönen et al, 1994Härkönen et al, , 2003Mueller et al, 2007). L'importance et les usages des CSC ont été décrits pour la communauté Yoruba au Nigeria, les pygmées Aka et Bofi de la République centrafricaine (Heim, 1942 ;Oso, 1975Oso, , 1977Malaisse et al, 2008), les Bantu et les Bagyeli du Cameroun (Dijk et al, 2003), les Nagots du Bénin , les communautés Bakweri du Mont Cameroun et une dizaine de communautés de la forêt montagneuse de Kilum-Ijum, au nord-ouest du Cameroun (Teke et al, 2018).…”