Abstract
Identifying priority medicinal plants at the local level
is crucial for the improvement of integrative and strong conservation solutions
around these resources. This study was carried out to determine underused and
overused botanical families, and, analyse the correlation between botanical
families, used plant parts, and categories of treated diseases in the Guinean
zone of Togo. Ethnobotanical field surveys conducted via semi-structured
interviews (individuals/focus groups) among traditional healers and medicinal
plant sellers helped to identify the rich diversity of medicinal plants used in
the Guinean zone. Bayesian statistics and the Imprecise Dirichlet Model (IDM)
were used to detect botanical families' level of use (under/overused). A matrix
analysis via phylogeny coupled with a cladogram was carried out to highlight
the preferences of users in plant parts and botanical families in the treatment
of diseases. It appears that 12.43% of the local flora in the Guinean zone of
Togo is used in traditional medicine. The most treated diseases with a high
plant diversity are general and unspecified categories of diseases (228
plants), followed by cardiovascular diseases (133 plants). Both Bayesian and
IDM approaches show that the most overused families are Amaranthaceae, followed
by Combretaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Meliaceae, Myrtaceae, and Rutaceae. The underused
families are Cyperaceae, Orchidaceae, and Poaceae. The leaves and roots are the
plant parts in high demand for the preparation of medicinal drugs. The presence
of chemical groups such as phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponosides,
coumarins, and alkaloids would justify the choice of a botanical family or
specific plant parts for the treatment of a category of diseases. It is
necessary to develop conservation strategies for overused plant families to
ensure sustainability for future generations.
Abstract Keywords
Bayesian approach,
Imprecise Dirichlet Model, medicinal plants, underused families, overused
families, Togo
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Abstract
Identifying priority medicinal plants at the local level
is crucial for the improvement of integrative and strong conservation solutions
around these resources. This study was carried out to determine underused and
overused botanical families, and, analyse the correlation between botanical
families, used plant parts, and categories of treated diseases in the Guinean
zone of Togo. Ethnobotanical field surveys conducted via semi-structured
interviews (individuals/focus groups) among traditional healers and medicinal
plant sellers helped to identify the rich diversity of medicinal plants used in
the Guinean zone. Bayesian statistics and the Imprecise Dirichlet Model (IDM)
were used to detect botanical families' level of use (under/overused). A matrix
analysis via phylogeny coupled with a cladogram was carried out to highlight
the preferences of users in plant parts and botanical families in the treatment
of diseases. It appears that 12.43% of the local flora in the Guinean zone of
Togo is used in traditional medicine. The most treated diseases with a high
plant diversity are general and unspecified categories of diseases (228
plants), followed by cardiovascular diseases (133 plants). Both Bayesian and
IDM approaches show that the most overused families are Amaranthaceae, followed
by Combretaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Meliaceae, Myrtaceae, and Rutaceae. The underused
families are Cyperaceae, Orchidaceae, and Poaceae. The leaves and roots are the
plant parts in high demand for the preparation of medicinal drugs. The presence
of chemical groups such as phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponosides,
coumarins, and alkaloids would justify the choice of a botanical family or
specific plant parts for the treatment of a category of diseases. It is
necessary to develop conservation strategies for overused plant families to
ensure sustainability for future generations.
Abstract Keywords
Bayesian approach,
Imprecise Dirichlet Model, medicinal plants, underused families, overused
families, Togo
