Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used in the treatment of female infertility in two localities of Melong subdivision-Cameroon

Introduction

The scarcity of conventional infertility treatments and the erosion of traditional medicinal knowledge pose significant challenges. This study aims to document and preserve herbal remedies of Moungo’s division against female infertility, leveraging the rich heritage of ancestral healing practices.

Methods

An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted on twenty traditional healers in Mbouroukou and Mouanguel, localities of the Melong sub-division (Littoral-Cameroon). A structured questionnaire collected data on plant-based treatments, supplemented by a comprehensive literature review on the botanical and therapeutic properties of these plants.

Results

The survey identified 50 plant species belonging to 35 families, utilised in 31 recipes. The majority of these recipes (19) combined multiple plants, while 12 were single-plant preparations. The Leaf was the most commonly used plant part (37.15%), with decoction being the primary preparation method (55.20%). Water was the mostly used solvent (75.85%) and treatments were predominantly administered via the anal route (54.84%), with dosages ranging from one to twelve purge bulbs per day over various treatment durations. Notably, Solanum aculeastrum, Musa parasidiaca, Ageratum conyzoides, and Commelina benghalensis were the plants most frequently mentioned by the interviewees.

Conclusion

The study reveals a rich diversity of therapeutic knowledge among traditional healers in Melong subdivision for treating female infertility. Acknowledging and integrating this ethnobotanical knowledge is essential for the conservation of medicinal plant species and the optimisation of therapeutic interventions aimed at improving women's reproductive health outcomes.