Ethno-botanical Survey and Chemical Study of Medicinal Plants Traditionally used to Treat Anemia in Yakoma Territory (Nord Ubangi), Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

Aims of the Study: To identify plant species traditionally used to treat anemia in Yakoma territory and to evaluate their chemical composition.
 Place and Duration: Yakoma Territory (survey) and University of Kinshasa (Phytochemical study), from August and October 2019.
 Methods: Ethnobotanical survey according to the "snowball" sampling technique among traditional healers (based on the free consent of the respondents), chemical analyses of plant materials (chemical screening, TLC, phytomarkers content, minerals composition) according to standard methods. ED-XRF was used for mineral analysis. Microsoft Excel version 2010, Origin version 8.5 Pro and IBM SPSS statistics version 20 software packages were used for data processing and analysis.
 Results and Discussion: The survey showed that 18 plant species are traditionally used by Ngbandi traditional healers to treat anemia in Yakoma territory. They belong to 16 families and 17 genera. The most used organs are the leaves (68.4%) and the roots (10.5%). Decoction and infusion are the most used mode of preparation (33.3% each), followed by cooking (22.2%) and maceration (11.1%). The oral route (77.8%) is the most used mode of administration followed by the enema (16.7%) and the anal route (5.6%). Morphological types consist of herbs and trees (33.3% each) and shrubs and lianas (16.7% each). The biotope types consist of forest plants (44.4%), cultivated plants/Crops (38.9%), marshy ground plants (11.1%) and ruderal plants (5.6%). These plants belonging to five biological types: erected therophytes (44.4%), mesophanerophytes (27.8%), microphanerophytes and climbing phanerophytes (11.1% each) and lianescent phanerophytes (5.56%). These anti-anemic plant species are mostly Pantropical and Afro-tropical (39% of species each) followed by Guineo-Congolese (17% of species) and American (5%). Chemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, anthraquinones and terpenoids and various minerals including iron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium and manganese.
 Conclusion: In the current state of knowledge, the survey of anemic plants from this part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is reported for the first time.

Ethnopharmacological Study of the Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Sickle Cell Anemia in the West Region of Cameroon

“…Decoction is one of the most widely used methods of preparation probably because it allows the collection of the most active ingredients, reduces or cancels the toxic effect of certain recipes, and disinfects the plant [ 11 ]. The most used administration or consumption mode was oral route, which can be explained by the fact that metabolites contained in the liquid form are usually assimilated rapidly [ 1 , 43 ]. In another study, the abovementioned techniques of plant preparation enable the collection of the most active compounds for pharmacological properties [ 11 , 44 ].…”

“…It is one of the most common hemoglobin abnormalities that cause morbidity and mortality, particularly in Africa and the world in general. The SCA is a genetic disorder characterized by the presence in red blood cells of hemoglobin S (Hb S), an abnormal form of the protein used to fix and transport oxygen [ 1 ]. It is attributed to a unique mutation of the globin beta gene located on chromosome 11, resulting in the replacement of glutamic acid (Glu) present in hemoglobin A (Hb A) by valine (val) in Hb S, which results in a total change in the spatial conformation of Hb [ 2 ].…”

“…In recent years, bone marrow transplantation and gene therapy have been proposed as an efficient way of treating SCD. However, the cost implications, availability of necessary expertise, problem of finding suitable donors, inadequate transfusion, and transfusion-related infections constituted a major setback to this approach in developing countries [ 1 ]. The management of the disease is ensured by the establishment of many treatments based mainly on extracts containing antioxidant activities.…”