Pharmacognosic standardization of a traditional recipe for incurable wounds based on Petersianthus macrocarpus (Lecythidaceae), Vernonia conferta (Asteraceae), and Carica papaya (Caricaceae) in Cameroon 

Abstract

Standardization is a process that allows botanical, chemical, pharmacognosic or even pharmacological characterization of herbal medicines. This operation will consist of a macroscopic and microscopic examination of the medicinal material of the recipe (remedy's mixture of powders). Then, a phyto chemical screening of the extract prepared in accordance with the practices of the healer will be carried out. Finally, the desiccation loss and the total ash content will be determined. The recipe used for incurable wounds was obtained following an ethno botanical survey carried out with a traditional healer. Indeed, traditional medicine continues to provide therapeutic solutions through plants. Chronic wounds are severe affections by their manifestations. Their care is difficult because of the multitude of factors behind their constitution. Many conventional therapies are available but mostly unaffordable and less and less effective. The goal of this work was to develop a new affordable and effective treatment. Our work has therefore successfully standardized a traditional recipe based on Petersianthus macrocarpus (Lecythidaceae), Vernonia conferta (Asteraceae), and Carica papaya (Caricaceae), used locally in the treatment of chronic wounds. This research is part of the program initiated by Abondo-Ngono Mballa et al.,1 on cartography of Healers from the Center Region Cameroon, followed by Ngono Mballa et al.,2 and Minyem et al.,3 in standardization of a recipe traditionally used to cure scalp fungal dermatitis. The standardization approach is therefore the appropriate solution to identify chemical and biochemical markers, constituting the substances and compounds of the plants present in the recipe and which would be responsible for the therapeutic activity.