Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria in plateau of Allada, Benin (West Africa)

Background: Malaria remains one of the most important illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa. In Benin, it constitutes a major public health preoccupation particularly for children and pregnant women. Until now, population still mostly relies on herbal medicine for malaria healing. Hence this study was carried out to document the medicinal plants used in the plateau of Allada in Benin and to assess local knowledge on traditional medicine in the management of malaria and related symptoms. Materials and methods: Data were collected from 53 informants composed of 23 traditional healers and 30 medicinal plants sellers using a structured questionnaire. Results: A total of 82 plants species belonging to 78 genera in 43 plant families were recorded as antimalarial in the study area. The families of Rubiaceae and Caesalpiniaceae were the most represented with seven species each. High informant consensus factor (ICF) was recorded in the treatment of malaria (ICF=0.90). High fidelity level (FL=100%) was also recorded for 45.67% of the species used as antimalarial. Dichapetalum madagascariense was the species of high relative frequency of citation (RFC=0.81). The dominant plant parts used in the preparation of remedies were leaves (68%). The decoction (79%) was the main mode of preparation, while oral route (92%) was the principal route of remedies administration. Conclusion: This study provides plant species used in the plateau of Allada for malaria and related symptoms treatment. We hope that this study could be important for the conservation of traditional knowledge on the antimalarial plants and the improvement of malaria management. However, several plant species used as antimalarial by the traditional medicine practitioners in the study area need to be screened in order to identify the species having antiplasmodial activity. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.