A MONOGRAPH ON PLANTS FREQUENTLY USED IN THE TREATMENT OF PROSTATITIS IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE: THE CASE OF BOKÉ PREFECTURE, REPUBLIC OF GUINEA/CONAKRY
Authors: Mamadou Laho BAH, Aboubacar DIALO, Mohamed Diogo BANGOURA, Sory FOFANA and Abdoulaye KEITA
Mamadou Laho BAH: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Gamal Abdel Nasser University, Conakry – PO Box: 1147, Republic of Guinea.
Aboubacar DIALO: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Gamal Abdel Nasser University, Conakry – PO Box: 1147, Republic of Guinea & DGA- Research and Innovation/ ISAU, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Higher Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning of Guinea, Conakry – PO Box: 914, Republic of Guinea.
Mohamed Diogo BANGOURA: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Gamal Abdel Nasser University, Conakry – PO Box: 1147, Republic of Guinea.
Sory FOFANA: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Gamal Abdel Nasser University, Conakry – PO Box: 1147, Republic of Guinea.
Abdoulaye KEITA: Deputy Director General of the Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Gamal Abdel Nasser University, Conakry – PO Box: 1147, Republic of Guinea.
ABSTRACT
Prostatitis is one of the most common urological conditions in adult men, characterised by inflammation of the prostate, often of infectious origin. In sub-Saharan Africa, and more specifically in Guinea, the management of these conditions still relies heavily on traditional medicine due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure and the high cost of modern treatments. In the prefecture of Boké, numerous medicinal plants are used in the treatment of prostatitis, passed down from generation to generation by traditional practitioners, herbalists and healers.
This study aims to catalogue these plants and compile monographs on them, including their taxonomic position, botanical description, traditional uses, parts used, methods of preparation, phytochemical constituents and reported pharmacological activities. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted among 35 traditional practitioners and herbalists, identifying twelve species used with high frequency: Phyllanthus muellerianus, Smilax anceps, Carica papaya, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Dioscorea bulbifera, Vitex doniana, Premna hispida, Gossypium barbadense, Persea americana, Anacardium occidentale, Daniellia oliveri and Cassia sieberiana. The results show that these plants possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may justify their empirical use. However, more in-depth phytochemical and pharmacological studies are required to validate their efficacy and promote the integration of traditional pharmacopoeia into strategies for managing prostatitis in Guinea.
Keywords: Prostatitis, traditional pharmacopoeia, ethnobotany, phytotherapy, pharmacological activities.