Inventory and Identification of Plants Used in the Treatment of Diabetes in Douala Town (Cameroon)

Abstract

Currently, the International Diabetes Federation estimates that 194 million people live with diabetes worldwide are 5.1% of the adult population and this number is estimated at 333 million in 2025. In Africa, there are about 13.6 million people suffering from diabetes. Despite many discoveries made about his treatment, cost of drug prescriptions is very high to justify the continued inaccessibility to medicine for the population living below a dollar daily income per person. The use of medicinal plants is accessible to all strata of society contributing to health for all. This study focuses on the inventory, identification and use of medicinal plants in the treatment of diabetes in Douala town. The ethnobotanical survey conducted in 2009 has enabled the identification of 41 plant species belonging to 36 genera and grouped into 26 families. These plants have led to the establishment of 47 medicinal recipes and some of which have already been cited by other authors. Ten species are common for the treatment of diabetes. These are: Alluim cepa, Aloe vera, Alstonia boonei, Catharanthus roseus, Costus afer, Cassia occidentalis, Ceiba pentandra, Citrus limon, Mangifera indica and Persea americana. The recipes which are more effective to apply every day are: one to two glasses of juice of Brassica oleracea L., a half glass of juice Phaseolus vulgaris L., three glasses of juice made from one to two handfuls of dry beard Zea mays L. boiled in a liter of water for 15 minutes and two glasses of boiled water with Eucalyptus sailgna Smith. Decoction and maceration are the main modes of preparation and oral mode is the only administration way met. The plants most used are harvested in forests, home gardens or crops and the organs used are the bark or leaf. Woody plants are most prevalent. Some plants are not recommended for pregnant women: Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Mormodica charantica, Panax ginseng, aloe vera because of the risk of miscarriage.