Traditional knowledge of plants used against upper respiratory tract affections in the Littoral Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Traditional medicine is used by people as an alternative to orthodox drugs to treat respiratory infections. The aim of this research was to document traditional recipes used in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections such as pharyngitis, cold, and sinusitis in peri-urban and rural areas of the Littoral Region of Cameroon. Ethnobotanical surveys were carried out using semi-structured interview model in French or Cameroonian local languages. They were distributed to 115 people. The respondents were both male and female, 20 years old and above, and belonged to seven ethnic groups. Data on plant species and the recipes used against upper respiratory tract infections were collected from the respondents. Plant parts used and methods of preparation were also provided by the respondents. The most abundant ethnic group (56 individuals) was Sawa, followed by Bassa (27) and Bamileke (23). The Lamiaceae family had the highest number of species (06), and Ocimum gratissimum was the most valuable species with 49 citations. Leaf was the main part used (69.94%), and decoction (39.16%) and trituration (38.11%) were the most popular preparation methods. This study has shown the essential role of traditional pharmacopoeia in the treatment of respiratory infections.

Therapeutic recipes based on medicinal plants used for the treatment of Flu, Cold, Cough and Covid-19 at cities of Mbanga and Yaounde (Cameroon)

“…Nearly 90% of the traditional healers interviewed between 10 and 35 years had experience in traditional medicine. These results are similar to those obtained by Afanyibo et al (2018), Kpabi et al (2020), Ouro-Djeri et al (2022 who obtained 85.96% of men between 10 and 50 years of experience in traditional medicinal plants in Tomety-Kondji (Togo). Ouro-Djeri et al (2022) during their work obtained 29% of recipes with side effects.…”

“…These results are similar to those obtained by Afanyibo et al (2018), Kpabi et al (2020), Ouro-Djeri et al (2022 who obtained 85.96% of men between 10 and 50 years of experience in traditional medicinal plants in Tomety-Kondji (Togo). Ouro-Djeri et al (2022) during their work obtained 29% of recipes with side effects. The dose administered is one of the concerns that accompanies this practice.…”

“…Although a gender balance was established during the surveys, it is important to note that almost all of the traditional healers interviewed were men (92.5%) with an average age of 55.17 ± 4.81 years. These results are similar to those of previous ethnopharmacological studies which revealed the predominance of seniors (Kpodar et al, 2016;Ouro-Djeri et al, 2022). The most cited reasons for recourse are empirical or inherited (52.70%).…”

“…In developing countries, traditional medicine is very often the only means of treatment accessible to populations (Tsobou et al, 2020). Apart from cultivated plants, several thousands of little-known wild plants have a great socio-cultural and socio-economic importance (Ouro-Djeri et al, 2022). They are endowed with nutritional and therapeutic properties (Effoe et al, 2020).…”

“…Indeed, little information on therapeutic recipes or dosages is known. It sometimes happens that the treatment requires the combination of several plants for these diseases (Etamé-Loé et al, 2018;Ngotta et al, 2023). This work aimed to provide information on the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of Flu, Cold, Cough and Covid-19, the different therapeutic recipes used and the reasons leading people to herbal medicine at Mbanga and Yaounde.…”