Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants used as Anti-Obesity Remedies in Foumban and Dschang Cities (West-Cameroon)

Aim: Obesity is a public health problem on a global and national scale. It is associated with high blood pressure, type II diabetes and certain metabolic complications. In Cameroon, obesity is observed in both rural and urban population where the people are still very attached to traditional values to solve their health problems. The present study was aimed at determining antiobesity medicinal plants used by the traditional healers in the Foumban and Dschang Municipalities.

Methodology: An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used against obesity was conducted in 2 localities, Foumban and Dschang, of the western region of Cameroon. The questionnaire was submitted and the information was collected via oral interviews with traditional healers and the people of the localities who benefited from anti-obesity treatments based on medicinal plants.

Results: Twenty five medicinal plants belonging to 16 families and used in the management of obesity were identified. Leaves and bark are the most used plant parts; they are followed by fruits (seeds) and Roots. Most herbal remedies are prepared as decoction in Foumban (30%) and Dschang (62%) respectively. The most common plant used by these people was Solanum indicum (49.27%, Foumban) and Tetrapleura tetraptera (40%, Dschang).

Conclusion: Relatively to the management of obesity with medicinal plants, the population of these localities presented interesting knowledge. However, there is still a need for further pharmacological and phytochemical investigations of the above common and most used ones.