VALORISATION OF PLANT RESOURCES USED IN ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE IN THE TREATMENT OF LIVER DISEASES IN SOUTH BENIN: ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTION

Abstract

Ethnobotanical prospecting was carried out on plants used in alternative medicine in the treatment of liver diseases in the communes of Kétou and Zagnanado in South Benin. The main objective of this study is to list the hepatoprotective medicinal plant resources of South Benin in order to valorize them. In the course of this study, a comparison of the results with those of the bibliographical data concerning the use of plants in the treatment of hepatic diseases was carried out. At the end of the study, 53 plants were listed with their modes of use. Different organs of: Acanthospermum hispidum, Bridelia ferruginia, Combretum micrantum, Passiflora foetida are widely used by traditional practitioners in South Benin in the treatment of liver diseases. Phyto-biochemical and pharmacological studies will enable us to develop these medicinal plants.