TITLE:
Knowledge and Traditional Uses of Some Aromatic and Cosmetic Plants Species in the Western Highlands of Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Manuella Kelly Djeuga Youga, Patrick Sonkoué Njiméli, Carine Pamela Kenfack, Junior Baudoin Wouokoue Taffo, Walter Ndam Tacham, Théophile Fonkou
KEYWORDS:
ABS, Valorisation, Aromatic Plants, Ethnobotanical Survey, Highlands
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.12 No.10,
October
31,
2022
ABSTRACT: The valorisation of plant genetic resources
following the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) process of the Nagoya Protocol
requires the mastery of traditional knowledge associated with their uses by
local populations. The objectives of this study were to survey the aromatic or
cosmetics plants species used by the populations and to collect information on
the knowledge associated with their uses in the Western highlands of Cameroon.
Ethnobotanical surveys were carried out in 12 localities, where 251
individuals, including 206 men and 45 women, whose ages ranged from 25 to 81
years were interviewed. Information on each of the plant species mentioned and
their different uses were recorded. A total of 103 species in 81 genera and 46
families were cited for aromatic or cosmetic uses, of which the most
represented were the Lamiaceae (18 species),
Asteraceae, and Zingiberaceae (7 species each). The identified plants
were grouped into four categories of use: medicinal (56.31%), cosmetic
(10.68%), food (6.80%), and cultural (1.94%). Most of the species surveyed were
herbaceous (66%) with leaves being the most used part. The diversity index
values of the respondents showed 10 species that were very well known and used
by the populations: Eryngium foetidum, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Ocimum gratissimum, Piper
umbellatum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Aframomum melegueta, Citrus limon, Costus afer, Cyperus rotundus, and Mondia
whitei. These species were mainly used for: cough, spiritual protection,
sexual weakness, cysts, diabetes, prostate, rheumatism, filaria, insomnia,
female sterility, jaundice, scabies, haemorrhoids, high blood pressure and
asthma. The results obtained constitute a valuable source of information that
can contribute to the establishment of value chains allowing the effective
valorisation of species following the ABS process.