Etude ethnobotanique de quelques plantes utilisées en médicine traditionnelle dans la partie Ouest de la République Démocratique du Congo (Gemena et Mbuji-mayi)

Abstract

The present study was carried out in the western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, more specifically in Gemena and Mbuji-Mayi. Its aim was to study the plants traditionally used to treat various illnesses, to complement an earlier study carried out by a team of researchers from the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS). Seventy traditional healers from different ethnic groups were identified and interviewed on a voluntary basis, respecting the principles set out in the Declaration of Helsinki with minor modifications. The ethnobotanical data collected was then supplemented by information on ecological types. Analysis of the data collected reveals that 61 plant species belonging to 21 orders and 33 families were inventoried and collected in the medicinal flora of Gemena and Mbuji-Mayi. The flora studied is dominated by forest species, although phanerophytes and pantropical species predominate in the medicinal flora studied. Trees are the most dominant morphological type. Leaves are the most widely used parts, and diabetes is the most commonly treated disease in both regions. This study has provided a better understanding of local medicinal resources and the associated traditional wisdom. This knowledge will contribute to the preservation of biodiversity, the enhancement of traditional medicinal practices and the search for new sources of medicines. Consequently, it would be desirable to carry out in-depth phytochemical and pharmacological studies on these medicinal plants with a view to their scientific validation