Prunus africana is a species of great economic, medicinal and ecological importance. Due to its multiple uses, unsustainable exploitation methods and low regeneration capacity in tropical rainforests, this species is threatened with extinction. Present and exploited in the eastern part of DR Congo, knowledge of the dynamics of post-bark regeneration of Prunus africana remains fragmentary and poorly known. In North Kivu province, this species thrives in both afromontane forest and lowland tropical rainforest habitats. In order to contribute to the rational and sustainable exploitation of Prunus africana in this province, this paper was carried out with the objective of contributing to the knowledge of the dynamics of the regeneration of post-harvest bark of Prunus africana in two exploitation sites (low and high altitude). To achieve this objective, the inventory was conducted on 16 plots of 25 hectares each, with 8 plots per site. Dendrometric parameters (diameter at breast height (DBH), total tree height) and tree growth and regeneration parameters, i.e., stem bark thickness of the unharvested and harvested portions of the trees (bark reconstitution) were measured. A total of 716 barked stems of Prunus africana in 2016 in 25 hectares constituted the study sample. Results show that sites do not influence diameter at breast height of P. africana trees (p > 0.05) or total tree height. The bark diameter of harvested trees and the bark diameter of unharvested trees varied significantly by site (p < 0.05). In contrast, the annual growth rate of bark differed with altitude; the highest rate was observed in trees growing at high altitude (2.97 ± 0.9 mm/yr) compared to 2.23 ± 0.74 mm/yr at low altitude. In view of these results, this
Malaria is a serious public health problem in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in general and in the city of Butembo in particular. To complete the lack of information, the objective of this article is to identify the different plant species used in the traditional treatment of malaria in the city of Butembo. Ethnobotanical investigations were conducted among 91 traditherapists. Semi-structured interviews with the use of a pre-established questionnaire were used for data collection. This study allowed the inventory of 26 plant species belonging to 18 botanical families. The species of the Asteraceae family are the most solicited by the therapists of the city of Butembo (25.27%). This family is followed by the Myrtaceae and Rubiaceae families, each with a total of 12.09%. Then come the Caricaceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae with respectively 9.89%, 9.89%, and 8.79% of citations. Leaves are the most used organ (70.33%) in the preparation of drugs. The pharmaceutical form of preparation is decoction (81.32%). The antimalarial recipes are administered by oral (100%). The species most solicited by the therapists are Artemisia annua (12.09%), Eucalyptus maideni var globulus (10.99%), Cinchona ledgeriana (10.99%), Cymbopogon citratus (9.89%), Carica papaya (9.89%), Cassia occidentalis (7.69%), and Bidens pilosa (8.79%). In consideration of these results, phytochemical and pharmacological analysis of these plants is essential to help validate their traditional use and to find new plants with antimalarial potential that would play the first role in the development of improved traditional medicines (ITM) with antimalarial activity.
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