Tropical Plant Research

Tropical Plant Research

An International Journal by Society for Tropical Plant Research

ISSN (E): 2349-1183 ISSN (P): 2349-9265
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2016, VOLUME 3 ISSUE 2Pages: 413-427

Ethno-botanical survey of plant species used in traditional medicine in Kinshasa city (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Koto-te-Nyiwa Ngbolua, Shetonde O. Mihigo, Clément Inkoto Liyongo, Masengo C. Ashande, Damien S.T. Tshibangu, Ben Gbolo Zoawe, Robijaona Baholy, Pierre Ruphin Fatiany and Pius T. Mpiana*
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Abstract:
An ethno-botanical survey was conducted among traditional healers and medicinal plant vendors in Kinshasa city (DR Congo) in order to identify plant species used in traditional medicine to treat common diseases, with the aim of documenting, preserving, and sustaining this valuable traditional knowledge. Surveys were conducted from February to April 2014 among 50 medicinal plant vendors, in five markets (Limete, Makala, Matete, Mont-Ngafula, and Ngaba). The education level of the majority of informants was secondary school. The age of the informants ranged between 20 and 68 years. Cited plant species were collected and identified at the herbarium of the Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa. Their ecological status was also determined. The 50 informants used 32 plant species (belonging to 22 families and 30 genera) in traditional medicine in Kinshasa. Their herbal remedies were administered as aqueous decoctions against 38 different diseases. It was found that ligneous, savanna, phanerophyte, and pantropical-type plant species were predominant both in numbers of species as well as in citations. Roots were the most used plant part, and malaria and haemorrhoids were the most treated diseases.
A, One of the authors (Clément Inkoto Liyongo) interviewing a medicinal plant vendor in a local market; B, Some medicinal plant species in the local marked

Fig.: A, One of the authors (Clément Inkoto Liyongo) interviewing a medicinal plant vendor in a local market; B, Some medicinal plant species in the local marked


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