Ethnobotanical study of plants used by traditional healers in Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of Congo) in the management of typhoid fever

No documented study reports the ethnobotanical knowledge of the medicinal plants involved in the management of typhoid fever in Lubumbashi. This study aims to identify plants and recipes used by traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) in Lubumbashi to manage typhoid fever. The cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out on TMPs through a direct interview, making it possible to collect ethnobotanical data. Fifty TMPs consulted (sex ratio M / F = 2.5, age = 45 ± 11 years, experience: 20 ± 13 years) made it possible to list 57 plants. These taxa are mostly shrubs (52%), Microphanerophytes (52%), endemic to tropical Africa (32%), belonging to 28 botanical families dominated by Fabaceae and indicated in 47 other causes of consultation for which diarrhea comes first position. From these 57 plants derived, 67 anti-typhoid recipes were administered orally. The stem bark was the most used part (33%), and the decoction (72%) was the most common preparation method. This study reports for the first time the ethnobotanical anti-typhoidal use of 25 species, among which Ficus sur Forssk. (0.22), and Monotes katangensis DeWild (0.18) has the highest consensus indexes (CI) and Diplorhynchus condylocarpon (Müll.Arg.) Pichona (UVp = 0.19) followed by Albizia antunesiana Harmsa (0.17), the highest usual values (UVp). TMPs use several plants in Lubumbashi to treat typhoid fever. Some are specific to the ecological environment, and others are used in other regions of the continent. Pharmacological studies are underway to assess the therapeutic efficacy of lesser-known plants among those listed.