Abstract

ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED FOR VIRAL HEPATITIS TREATMENT IN HAUTS-BASSINS AREAS OF BURKINA FASO

Eliasse Zongo*, Roland Nâg-Tiero Meda, Sami Eric Kam, Benjamin Kouliga Koama, Hermann Yempabou Ouoba and Georges Anicet Ouedraogo

ABSTRACT

Viral etiologies remain an area concern in sub-Saharan Africa with varying prevalence depending on the country. In Burkina Faso, the majority of the population uses medicinal plants to treat hepatitis. The present study consisted at identifying the medicinal plants used to treat hepatitis in the Hauts-Bassins region of Burkina Faso. A field study was carried out from August 2018 to July 2019 with one hundred and forty-four traditional healers and herbalists, including 94 men and 50 women. The survey was carried out using semi-structured questionnaire. Fifty-four plant species have been listed in 51 genera and 31 families. The most frequently mentioned families were; Fabaceae (6 species) followed by Combretaceae, Rubiaceae, Meliaceae and Anacardiaceae (4 species for each). All other families were represented by a single species. The most commonly used species were: Terminalia avicennioides Guill. and Perr (10.22%) followed by Cassia sieberiana DC, Chrysanthellum americanum (L.) Vatke and Combretum micranthum G. Don (6.20% for each). The leaves (41.89%) and roots (37, 43%) were the most used organs. The decoction was the most common method of preparation (53.49%). Drinks (88.11%) were the most widely used mode of administration. This study is a contribution to better knowledge of the medicinal plants used to manage viral hepatitis in Hauts-Bassins region of Burkina Faso.

Keywords: Ethnobotanical survey, Traditional healers, herbalists, viral hepatitis, Hauts-Bassins, Burkina Faso.