Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used to treat bone fractures around the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve, Benin

Résumé

The present study was carried out in Natitingou and Tanguiéta, two communities bordering the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in Benin. Its overall aim was to assess traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by communities living along the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve to treat bone fractures, and the degree of vulnerability to exploitation of these plants. A total of 20 traditional bone fracture healers (THBF) were identified and surveyed using snowball sampling. The data collected during the semi-structured interviews were analyzed and processed through estimates of citation frequencies and vulnerability indices for the medicinal plants inventoried. A total of 29 medicinal plant species, divided into 26 genera and 19 families, are used to treat bone fractures in the Natitingou-Tanguiéta zone (NTZ). Among these species, Ochna rhizomatosa (FRC = 60%), Raphia sudanica (FRC = 40%), Flueggea virosa (FRC = 35%) and Digitaria exilis (FRC = 30%) are the most widely used and important. The availability of most medicinal plants used to treat bone fractures has declined considerably, especially in natural ecosystems. 16 of these species are vulnerable, of which Ochna rhizomatosa is the most vulnerable, with a vulnerability index of 2.63. The factors influencing this availability are mainly logging/PFNLs (36%), uncontrolled bush fires (32%) and extensive agriculture (26%). These results can be considered as a database for the conservation of plants used in the treatment of bone fractures and their valorization in the field of phytochemistry and pharmacology.

Keywords: Natitingou-Tanguiéta, medicinal plant, bone fracture, vulnerability index, local conservation strategies