Ethnopharmacological uses of Erythrina senegalensis: a comparison of three areas in Mali, and a link between traditional knowledge and modern biological science

Abstract

This paper describes ethnopharmacological knowledge on the uses of Erythrina senegalensis DC (Fabaceae) in traditional medicine in three different areas (Dioila, Kolokani and Koutiala) in Mali. Data were collected using interviews of traditional healers selected randomly. The main reported diseases for which E. senegalensis was used by the traditional healers were amenorrhea, malaria, jaundice, infections, abortion, wound, and body pain (chest pain, back pain, abdominal pain etc). The fidelity level (which estimates the agreement of traditional healers on the same area about a reported use of the plant) was calculated to compare the results from the three areas. Certain differences were noticed, the most striking was the fact that amenorrhea was the most reported disease in Dioila and Kolokani with 21% of agreement for both areas, while this use was not reported in Koutiala at all. Similarities existed between the three areas on the use of the plant against malaria and infections, although with different degree of agreement among the healers. We also report the results of a literature survey on compounds isolated from the plant and their biological activities. A comparison of these results with the ethnopharmacological information from Mali and other countries showed that some of the traditional indications in Mali are scientifically supported by the literature. For instance, the use of E. senegalensis against infectious diseases (bilharzias, schistosomiasis, pneumonia etc.) is sustained by several antibacterial and antifungal compounds isolated from different parts of the plant. The comparison also showed that pharmacologists have not fully investigated all the possible bioactivities that healers ascribe to this plant.

Acute and subchronic oral toxicity assessment of the aqueous extract from the stem bark of Erythrina senegalensis DC (Fabaceae) in rodents

“…The decoction of the stem bark of this tree is traditionally used by Bamoun population (Western Cameroon tribe) against liver disorders such as hepatitis and jaundice (Moundipa et al, 2002). In Mali, Erythrina senegalensis (ES) is used against several diseases and symptoms among which the main reported are malaria, jaundice, infections, gastrointestinal disorders, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhoea, sterility, onchocerchosis, body pain, abdominal pain and headache (Togola et al, 2008). Several compounds such as 2, 3 dihydroauriculatin (Taylor et al, 1986), Erybraedin A (Wanjala et al, 2002), isoflavonoids 6-8 diprenylgenistein (Oh et al, 1999) isolated from this plant have shown antimicrobial activities on various microbial species.…”

Terminalia macroptera, its current medicinal use and future perspectives

“…Sores and wounds, pain, cough, tuberculosis and hepatitis were the most common indications, as demonstrated by their fidelity index (Table 4). Fidelity index (FI) is defined as (N p /N) × 100 where N p is the number of reported uses against any specific condition and N is the total number of uses reported (Togola et al, 2008). Stem bark and root, alone or in combination with other parts or other plants, were most frequently used.…”

Anthelmintic activity of medicinal plants used in Côte d’Ivoire for treating parasitic diseases

“…This plant is applied in traditional medicine in the treatment of urinary bilharziosis (Togola et al 2008). The efficacy against juvenile S. mansoni in vivo remains to be tested.…”

“…The 50 plants studied in the present work were selected based on results of a survey carried out between 1999 and 2005 in Northern Côte d'Ivoire on the use of medicinal plants for treating human parasitic diseases and associated discomforts (stomach ache, dysentery, diarrhoea (Koné 2005;Koné et al 2002Koné et al , 2005, animal parasitic diseases (Koné and Kamanzi Atindehou 2008) and on literature reports (Diehl et al 2004;Tra Bi et al 2005;Togola et al 2008;N'Guessan et al 2009 …”