An Ethnobotanical and Floristical Study of Medicinal Plants Among the Baka Pygmies in the Periphery of the Ipassa- Biosphere Reserve, Gabon

Aims: This paper aims to describe the popular use of medicinal plants by the Baka Pygmies settled in the periphery of the Ipassa Reserve, analyses their relative importance and characterizes the medicinal flora.

Study Design: Gathering data on the popular use of medicinal plants in a given area.

Place and Duration of Study: Data obtained from direct interviews conducted in August 2011 in Mekob, a village settled at 10 km to the Makokou city in the North Gabon.

Methodology: The household was considered as the sample unit. For each health problem cited, the name of the plants, the plant parts, the modes of preparation, and the modes of administration of recipes were recorded. The plants were identified in the herbarium, Libreville. Plants were characterized by their phytogeographical distribution, their morphological types, their habitats, and their modes of scattering of seeds. The relative importance of the plants was established based on the number of citations “events” occurred in the recipes.

Results: Six Baka informants with an average age of 40 years old including three men and three women interviewed. A total of 136 citations composed of 71 plant species recorded in the treatment of 24 ailments. The examination of the curve showing the evolution of the number of plants with that of informants recommends enlarging the sample as to gather the maximum of plants used by the Baka pygmies. The typical Guinean species are most represented in terms of both number of plant species (72%) and citations (61.5%).

Conclusion: Some plant species cited at least twice for the same ailment are known in the literature to possess active compounds. Further studies should be undertaken to complete the sample and to investigate the affectivity of other plants that have not yet been studied for their chemical compounds and their pharmacological activity.