Insight the Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Urinary Tract Infections in Benin

Abstract

Background and Objective: Plants have been traditionally used as an alternative option to treat infections when conventional treatments fail. The present study aimed to provide local knowledge of plants used in Benin to treat urinary tract infections. Materials and Methods: The study involved questionnaires and interviews with medicinal plant sellers, with 80 participants from markets and shops. This questionnaire helped us gather information on the users’ and sellers’ socio-demographic characteristics, the variety of plant species used to treat urinary infections and the preparation and administration methods of the recipes. Results: The study found that 68.75% of respondents were female, with 61.25% aged between 30 and 60. The frequency of medicinal plant use varied based on age, gender and education level. The study identified 29 plants from 22 botanical families. Khaya senegalensis, Ocimum americanum, Cassytha filiformis, Heliotropium indicum and Caesalpinia bonduc were the most cited species with a citation frequency above 20%. Preparations mainly used leaves as decoction and the oral route was mostly used. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of traditional medicine in treating urinary tract infections in Benin. Evaluating the biological activities of prominent species is a promising area of research.