Ethnobotanical survey of the adverse and toxic effects of medicinal plants used in Guinean traditional medicine

Abstract

This study aimed to identify undesirable and toxic effects of plants used in Guinean traditional medicine. Materials and Methods:We surveyed 131 traditional practitioners in 2 prefectures of Guinea about their knowledge and experience with adverse or toxic events associated with the medicinal or nonmedicinal use of plants, collecting samples of these plants for botanical analysis. Results: Ethnobotanically, 54 species from 33 botanical families were identified. The main species identified as having adverse or toxic effects were Erythrophleum suaveolens, Dichapetalum toxicarium, Mucuna pruriens, Datura metel, Anthostema senegalense, Gardenia erubescens, Detarium senegalense and Strophanthus hispidus. Conclusion:This work provides a basis for identifying and establishing a database on the toxicity of plants used for medicinal and non-medicinal purposes in Guinea.

Strophantus (Apocynaceae): Composition and Biochemical Properties with a Focus on S. sarmentosus

“…Despite the fact that numerous plants are used in ethnomedicinal practice, scientific studies about their undesirable and toxic effects are limited. A report concerning plants used in Guinean traditional medicine [64] mentioned adverse or toxic effects for S. hispidus and associated them with the presence of the cardiotonic heterosides, which are known to have a narrow therapeutic margin.…”