Medicinal Plants Used in the Traditional Treatment of Cancer in the District of Bamako, Mali

Aims: This study goaled to enhance the value of traditional medicinal plants used in cancer treatment.

Place and Duration of Study: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in fifteen markets of Bamako district's, from February to August 2023.

Methodology: The surveys involved the traditional medicine practitioners in Bamako based on a well semi-structured questionnaire. The information about the cancer and the plant species used to manage it, the mode of use and preparation in addition to the social characteristics of respondents were gathered.

Results: A total of 172 traditional health practitioners were questioned in this study with a predominance of female (72.7%). Among the types of cancer known by the respondents, the breast cancer topped the list with 63.48%, followed by the cervical (21.34%) and prostate (8.42%) cancer. Twenty-seven (27) plant species belonged to 19 botanical families were used by these people to treat the cancer. Ximenia americana Linn, Cola acuminata F and Strychnos spinosa Lam were the most frequently cited species, with a frequency of 51.85%. The most represented botanical families were Fabaceae and Acanthaceae. The leaves (34%) were the most widely used medicinal plant parts, followed by leafy branches (20%) and roots (16%). For the preparation of medicinal recipes, 44.44% of the respondents recommended mainly the decoction (44.44%) and spraying (41.70%), These recipes are generally administered by oral route (32.69%) and specific bath (30.76%).

Conclusion: These results constitute a preliminary step to the assessment of the anti-cancer properties of some of these registered plant species.