Survey of plants used in traditional medicine against malaria in Bukavu and Uvira /DR Congo

Survey of plants used in traditional medicine against malaria in Bukavu and Uvira/
DR Congo.

Manya Mboni Henry1,3,4*, Kahumba Byanga Joseph1, Pierre Duez5, Caroline Stévigny3, Lumbu Simbi Jean-Baptiste4.

1Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Food Science and Human Nutrition, ULB; 2Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, UNILU; 3Organic Chemistry Service, UNILU; 5Laboratory of Therapeutic Chemistry & Pharmacognosy, UMONS.

Malaria is a major tropical parasitic disease, particularly in DR Congo. Its therapy is based not only on modern antimalarial drugs, for which resistance problems are encountered, but also on medicinal plants, a promising source for new and effective antimalarial lead compounds and phytodrugs.
This study was conducted between May 2013 and June 2014, from Southern Bukavu to Uvira, to identify reputable antimalarial plants.
Direct interviews with a field questionnaire allowed collecting ethnobotanical data; for each plant, a specimen was harvested in the presence of the interviewed traditional healers. The names and parts of plants, methods of preparation and administration of remedies were recorded. The listed plants were identified at the Botanic Garden of Meise, where the herbarium specimens were deposited.
Thirty-two resource persons were selected for their popularity and reputation in their neighbourhood; men were majority (62.5 %; sex ratio, 1.7). Interviewees cited 45 plant species grouped into 40 genera and 16 families in which Asteraceae (26.7 % of plants) were predominant. The leaves (57.3 %) are the organ mostly used for the preparation of drug recipes. The decoction (48.9 %) and beverage (72.6 %) represent the major preparation, intended mostly for oral administration.
The populations of Bukavu and Uvira use plants in the treatment of malaria. Studies are being conducted to determine the effectiveness of these plants and to isolate antimalarial molecules.

Keywords: malaria, medicinal plants, ethnobotanical survey, Bukavu, Uvira.