Ethnobotanical survey on plants used in the treatment of infectious diseases in the Bamboutos division (Cameroon)

The objective of this work is to carry out an ethnopharmacological survey of the medicinal flora of the Bamboutos department in the West Cameroon region. More precisely, plants were collected in 16 groups of the Bamboutos department. These collected plants were identified at the National Herbarium of Cameroon. The survey methodologies used were: field evolution, comparative study and interview of traditional practitioners, herbalists and other elderly people using a questionnaire. The interview was conducted with 26 traditional healers. At the end of this survey, 167 plants in 58 families were identified. Asteraceae 30%, Acanthaceae 16% and Solanaceae 14% were the most represented. Of the 167 plants collected, 69 came from the Mbouda Sub-Division, 46 from Batcham, 29 from Babadjou and 23 from Galim. Specifically in the following villages: Bamesingué 16, Babeté 8, Bamesso 8, Bamendjida 18, Bamenkobo 12, Bafunda 7, Bamendjio 18, Batcham 17, Bamoughong 4, Bagang 7, Bagam 5, Bati 9, Bamenyam 9, Balatchi 9, Bamendjin 8, Babadjou 12. The pathologies encountered were general pathologies (19%), gynaecological-obstetrical pathologies (16%), otorhinolaryngological pathologies (13%) and nervous system pathologies (12%). Fungal and parasitic pathologies 10%. Concerning the mode of preparation, decoction 45%, infusion 25% were the most solicited and the leaves 45%, the roots 11%, the whole plant 11%, were the most used parts in the preparations. This work will enable us to envisage the development of Improved Traditional Medicines (ITM) in the short term.