MEDICINAL PLANTS SOLD IN YAOUNDE MARKETS, CAMEROON

Abstract

A total of 35 medicinal plants were obtained from 18 sellers at the Yaounde markets in March 2000. The plant species comprised 35 genera and 19 families. Malaria, lumbago, and male sexual impotence appear to be the prevailing diseases in terms of the number of references made by these sellers. An index of performance (Ip) is proposed for each plant species, based on its number of references and according to an arbitrary scale which ranges from 0 to 3. Some plants used for treating certain diseases are widely used in African countries in similar ways. There are also plants of which their effectiveness is confirmed in the literature with their biological activity relating to the specific disease.