Abstract

Diabetes, has become a public health problem whose prevalence is increasing in subsahelian Africa. The present study aimed to determine the consensus level of plant use and their antidiabetic potentiality. Thus, a semi-structured interview carried out from May 2014 to April 2018 with 120 traditional healers allowed retaining nine species after selection according to the frequency of citation and the bibliographic review: Crescentia cujete L., Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. Ficus platyphylla Delile, Lannea acida A. Rich., Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch. & Dalziel, Feretia apodanthera Delile, Cassia italica (Mill.) Lam. ex F.W. Andrews and Boscia angustifolia A. Rich. Phytochemical screening of methanolic and aqueous extracts was performed by high performance thin layer chromatography and the total flavonoids, hydrolyzable and condensed tannins were determined by spectrophotometer method. Results showed that thirty-seven, fifty-five and sixty-five species were inventoried in the provinces of Bazega, Zounweogo and Sanmatenga respectively but the Informant Consensual Factor related to the plant use remains low (FIC<50%). Notwithstanding this, phytochemical screening of plant extracts showed the presence of flavonoids and tannins. The highest flavonoids and hydrolysable tannins content were obtained with Cassia italica (Mill.) Lam. ex F.W. Andrews methanolic extracts (11.03±0.07 mg EQ/100 g dry matter and 34.82±0.14 mg ETA /100 g dry matter respectively). The best condensed tannins content was noted with Lannea acida A. Rich. methanolic extract (543.94±18.67 mg ETA /100 g dry matter). These results constitutes a scientific basis that can be directed towards a pharmacological and toxicological investigation.

Keywords: Ethnobotanical surveys; Traditional healers; Consensus; Phytochemical screening; Diabetes.