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Ethnobotanical Research on the Knowledge of Vernonia amygdalina Leaves in the Treatment of Liver Diseases in South Benin

Received: 20 May 2020     Accepted: 1 June 2020     Published: 9 June 2020
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Abstract

Most of the inhabitants of South Benin use medicinal plants to treat various pathologies. Several research studies have cited Vernonia amygdalina as a hepatoprotective medicinal plant. The objective of this work is to list the medicinal plants made available to the population to treat liver diseases by herbalists and to verify their level of knowledge in relation to the use of Vernonia amygdalina. The methodology consists of conducting a semi-structured survey of herbalists in markets, on sites where medicinal plants are sold and in households. This methodology allowed us to identify 38 species of medicinal plants belonging to 20 families. The best represented species is Bridelia ferruginea (10) of the family Euphobiaceae. The Rubiaceae family is the most represented (16). The organ of the plant most frequently used in recipes is the root (47). Five hundred and fifty-two households (552) responded to our questions. 64% use the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina for nutrition against 36% for therapeutic use. 68% are supplied from distant fields, 13% from urban areas and 19% from market gardening sites. 35% say they have no information about its use in phytotherapy, 21% use it for intestinal ailments, 18% for the treatment of malaria, 13% for oral diseases, 12% for other pathologies. The frequency of use (four times a week) is best represented for nutrition and phytotherapy. In conclusion, Vernonia amygdalina is very little known in phytotherapy despite the various researches carried out on this plant. Researchers must promote medicinal plants that are very easy to grow in order to limit the offer to users of rare plants in danger of extinction.

Published in Journal of Health and Environmental Research (Volume 6, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.jher.20200603.11
Page(s) 44-50
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Vernonia amygdalina, Ethnobotanical Investigation, Liver Diseases

References
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[7] Yeap SK, Ho YW, Beh BK, Liang WS, Ky H, Yousr AHN and Alitheen NB (2010). Vernonia amygdalina, an ethnoveterinary and ethnomedical used green vegetable with multiple bioactivities. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 4 (25), pp. 2787-2812.
[8] Atangwho IJ, Edet EE, Uti DE, Obi AU, Asmawi ZM, Ahmad M (2012). Biochemical and histological impact of Vernonia amygdalina supplemented diet in obese rats Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 19, 385-392.
[9] Iroanya OO, Adebesin OA, Okpuzor J (2014). Evaluation of the Hepato and Nephron-Protective Effect of a Polyherbal Mixture using Wistar Albino Rats. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 8 (6): HC15-HC21.
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[17] Adetutu A and Olorunnisola OS. (2013). Hepatoprotective Potential of Some Local Medicinal Plants against 2-Acetylaminoflourene-Induced Damage in Rat. Journal of Toxicology. 5p.
[18] Bitsindou M, Lejoly J et Van Essghe K (1993). Plants used against liver diseases in traditional African medicine. Proceedings of the 2nd EuropCen Colloquium of Ethnopharmacology and Island International Conference of Ethnomedicine, Heidelberg, 24-27.
[19] Djiguida M (2005). Evaluation of three recipes in the traditional treatment of hepatitis B in Mali. Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odonto -Stomatology. University of Bamako. 94p.
[20] Tubéry P, Ragot J, lagarde P, Authier-derivaux d, Pidoux M, Rasolohery C, Bourdy G (2015). Composition and Functional Properties of Vernonia amygdalina Vegetable Leaf Protein Concentrates Greener. Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 3 (3), pp. 204-210.
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    Adjouavi Yvette Deguenon, Bernadin Manou Elegbede, Théodore Soussia, Kissao Gnandi, Patrick Aleodjrodo Edorh, et al. (2020). Ethnobotanical Research on the Knowledge of Vernonia amygdalina Leaves in the Treatment of Liver Diseases in South Benin. Journal of Health and Environmental Research, 6(3), 44-50. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20200603.11

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    ACS Style

    Adjouavi Yvette Deguenon; Bernadin Manou Elegbede; Théodore Soussia; Kissao Gnandi; Patrick Aleodjrodo Edorh, et al. Ethnobotanical Research on the Knowledge of Vernonia amygdalina Leaves in the Treatment of Liver Diseases in South Benin. J. Health Environ. Res. 2020, 6(3), 44-50. doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20200603.11

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    AMA Style

    Adjouavi Yvette Deguenon, Bernadin Manou Elegbede, Théodore Soussia, Kissao Gnandi, Patrick Aleodjrodo Edorh, et al. Ethnobotanical Research on the Knowledge of Vernonia amygdalina Leaves in the Treatment of Liver Diseases in South Benin. J Health Environ Res. 2020;6(3):44-50. doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20200603.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jher.20200603.11,
      author = {Adjouavi Yvette Deguenon and Bernadin Manou Elegbede and Théodore Soussia and Kissao Gnandi and Patrick Aleodjrodo Edorh and Guillaume Koffivi Ketoh},
      title = {Ethnobotanical Research on the Knowledge of Vernonia amygdalina Leaves in the Treatment of Liver Diseases in South Benin},
      journal = {Journal of Health and Environmental Research},
      volume = {6},
      number = {3},
      pages = {44-50},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jher.20200603.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20200603.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jher.20200603.11},
      abstract = {Most of the inhabitants of South Benin use medicinal plants to treat various pathologies. Several research studies have cited Vernonia amygdalina as a hepatoprotective medicinal plant. The objective of this work is to list the medicinal plants made available to the population to treat liver diseases by herbalists and to verify their level of knowledge in relation to the use of Vernonia amygdalina. The methodology consists of conducting a semi-structured survey of herbalists in markets, on sites where medicinal plants are sold and in households. This methodology allowed us to identify 38 species of medicinal plants belonging to 20 families. The best represented species is Bridelia ferruginea (10) of the family Euphobiaceae. The Rubiaceae family is the most represented (16). The organ of the plant most frequently used in recipes is the root (47). Five hundred and fifty-two households (552) responded to our questions. 64% use the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina for nutrition against 36% for therapeutic use. 68% are supplied from distant fields, 13% from urban areas and 19% from market gardening sites. 35% say they have no information about its use in phytotherapy, 21% use it for intestinal ailments, 18% for the treatment of malaria, 13% for oral diseases, 12% for other pathologies. The frequency of use (four times a week) is best represented for nutrition and phytotherapy. In conclusion, Vernonia amygdalina is very little known in phytotherapy despite the various researches carried out on this plant. Researchers must promote medicinal plants that are very easy to grow in order to limit the offer to users of rare plants in danger of extinction.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Ethnobotanical Research on the Knowledge of Vernonia amygdalina Leaves in the Treatment of Liver Diseases in South Benin
    AU  - Adjouavi Yvette Deguenon
    AU  - Bernadin Manou Elegbede
    AU  - Théodore Soussia
    AU  - Kissao Gnandi
    AU  - Patrick Aleodjrodo Edorh
    AU  - Guillaume Koffivi Ketoh
    Y1  - 2020/06/09
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20200603.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jher.20200603.11
    T2  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    JF  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    JO  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    SP  - 44
    EP  - 50
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2472-3592
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20200603.11
    AB  - Most of the inhabitants of South Benin use medicinal plants to treat various pathologies. Several research studies have cited Vernonia amygdalina as a hepatoprotective medicinal plant. The objective of this work is to list the medicinal plants made available to the population to treat liver diseases by herbalists and to verify their level of knowledge in relation to the use of Vernonia amygdalina. The methodology consists of conducting a semi-structured survey of herbalists in markets, on sites where medicinal plants are sold and in households. This methodology allowed us to identify 38 species of medicinal plants belonging to 20 families. The best represented species is Bridelia ferruginea (10) of the family Euphobiaceae. The Rubiaceae family is the most represented (16). The organ of the plant most frequently used in recipes is the root (47). Five hundred and fifty-two households (552) responded to our questions. 64% use the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina for nutrition against 36% for therapeutic use. 68% are supplied from distant fields, 13% from urban areas and 19% from market gardening sites. 35% say they have no information about its use in phytotherapy, 21% use it for intestinal ailments, 18% for the treatment of malaria, 13% for oral diseases, 12% for other pathologies. The frequency of use (four times a week) is best represented for nutrition and phytotherapy. In conclusion, Vernonia amygdalina is very little known in phytotherapy despite the various researches carried out on this plant. Researchers must promote medicinal plants that are very easy to grow in order to limit the offer to users of rare plants in danger of extinction.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Godomey, Benin

  • National Water Institute, University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Godomey, Benin

  • National Medical and Health Institute, University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Godomey, Benin

  • Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Lome (UL), Lomé, Togo

  • Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Godomey, Benin

  • Department of Physiology/Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, University of Lome (UL), Lomé, Togo

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