Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to survey a wide range of Gabonese plants for their anti-diabetic activity. Materials andMethods: This study focused on the identification of medicinal plants used in the local treatment of diabetes mellitus. We carried out ethnobotanical investigations in rural and urban areas of three provinces of Gabon using a semi-structured interview. Results: Forty-eight plant species belonging to 31 families and 47 genera were recorded, a majority of which have been documented previously to have medicinal properties. Most have documented anti-diabetic properties with characterized therapeutic chemical compounds. Of the plant parts used for treatment, bark was employed most frequently (51%), followed by leaves (29%); the remaining 20% comprised roots, fibers, beans, bulbs, kernels, rhizome, skin and stem. Regarding the mode of preparation, decoction was the most widely used (59%), followed by maceration (17%) and infusion (14%). Almost all the plant products were administered orally (98%). Conclusions: Taken in concert, this study highlights the possibility of exploiting traditional knowledge of specific medicinal plants for the inexpensive treatment and management of diabetes.

Key words: Ethnopharmacology, Bio-efficacy, Medicinal plants, Diabetes mellitus, Gabon