Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 2(8), pp.

197-206, August, 2008

Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR
ISSN 1996-0875© 2008 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Ethnobotany and phytopharmacopoea of the South-

West ethnoecological region of Cameroon
T. Jiofack1*, C. Fokunang2, V. Kemeuze1, E. Fongnzossie3, N. Tsabang4, R. Nkuinkeu5, P. M.
Mapongmetsem6 and B. A. Nkongmeneck1
1
Millennium Ecologic Museum, Po Box 8038 Yaounde – Cameroon.
2
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
3
Organisation pour l’Environnement et le Développement Durable (OPED), Cameroon.
4
Medical Institute of Medicinal Plants research, Yaounde – Cameroon.
5
Faculty of Plant Biology, University of Buea, Cameroon.
6
Faculty of Plant Biology, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
Accepted 7 August 2008

This study highlight the use, commercialisation, cultivation, and conservation status of the major
medicinal plants within the South-West and Littoral ethnoecological regions of Cameroon. The
methodology was generally based on direct interview or discussion with the main stakeholder. More
than 177 plants (lianas, trees, shrubs and herbs) belonging to 80 families are being used as medicine,
several are sold as crude material. The propagation and domestication of the very useful medicinal
plants, including the threatened species (Prunus Africana), in the region is neglected. It is important to
initiate programs for the establishment of medicinal plant gardens both for livelihood improvement as
well as for conservation purposes.

Keys words: Phytopharmacopoea, medicinal plants, ethnoecological region, herbal market, threatened
species.

INTRODUCTION

Medicines derived from plants play an important role in plants to be conserved in the region, with reference to the
traditional health care systems as well as in international International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN,
herbal and pharmaceutical markets. History provides 2007) list and to build up a state-of-knowledge on medi-
numerous examples of how this has led to the over cinal plant gardens in the region.
exploited and extinction of plant species.
In Africa, traditional medicine occupies an important
place in our socio-economic lives; about 70% of the METHODOLOGY
population in our African countries depends on traditional
The present study takes place in two ethnoecological region of
medicine. In Cameroon, commercialisation of traditional Cameroon between 08o-11°02” E and 03o68”-05°47” N (Figure 1).
medicine is still not organised. Its integration in the health Information on past research or surveys on medicinal plants and
system is not effective, despite the numerous herbalists related issues such as general non timber forest product (NTFP)
and the increasing number of modern traditional clinics and ethno botany surveys respectively was gathered from the
(Nkongmeneck et al., 2007). libraries of individuals and institutions such as the Limbe Botanic
This Ethnobotanical study in the South West and the Garden (LBG), Forests, Resources and People (FOREP), World
Botanical Exchange and Services (WBES) and the Centre for the
Littoral provinces involve the uses, commercialisation, Environment and Rural Transformation (CERUT).
domestication, distribution, and conservation status of Structured questionnaires were further applied to three main
medicinal plants. The paper aims to identify important classes of people involved in medicinal plants, these include; tradi-
tional practitioners or herbalists, medicinal plants gardeners and
medicinal plant traders. This methodology however, had modify-
cations according to the field conditions. In areas were the people
*Corresponding author. E-mail: renbernadin1@yahoo.fr. Phone: are not welcoming or comfortable with questionnaires, more of
(237) 99 32 41 85 informal discussions were held with such and this occurred very
198 J. Med. Plant. Res.

tables and fruits such as; onions, ginger, garlic, pawpaw,

lemon, limes, bitter leave and other leafy vegetables.
About 80% of the herbalists make use of barks of forest
trees such as Pygeum (Prunus africana), king stick,
mahogany and yellow canda (Enantia chlorantha) as well
as roots of trees such as ebony (Diospyros sp)
(Nkuinkeu, 1998, 2000).
Generally a mixture of more than one plant is adminis-
tered to the patients. This also is the case with the herba-
lists operating ‘modern traditional clinics’ who actually
package their herbs separately or blended together (e. g:
Doctor’s Prince Aimé and Moherbs). The composition of
these packets is ambiguous (Jiofack et al, 2007). Only
the species names of plants such as ‘africana’ or ‘aethio-
pica’ are indicated, which is obviously shared by many
different plants of the region (Comesky et al., 2003).
Some herbalist mentioned that they used basically
common vegetables cultivated around farms and home
gardens (Table 1, 2). Some plants are widely used locally
in most parts of these regions; e.g. E. chlorantha is
widely known for its ability to treat ‘fevers’ and therefore
is mentioned as medicine in most villages (Sunderland et
Figure 1. The research areas al., 2002; Cheek et al., 2004; Cox, 1991; Duncan et al.,
1989). Common herbs such as Emilia coccinea, Arge-
ratum conyzoides and Ocimum gratissimum are also
widely known for their medicinal values (Nkuinkeu et al.,
often. As such, most of the information gathered was through infor-
2007). Also, many plants can be found and harvested
mal discussions and observations, resulting to limited quantitative
data. according to the traditional healer recommendation or
suffering pathology (Nkongmeneck et al., 2007).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Diseases and illnesses treated
A total number of 177 medicinal plants have been record-
ed within more than 80 botanic families (Table 1). Medi- Here, 12 therapeutic indications such as child diseases,
cinal plants are harvested from the forests, fallow and digestive diseases, eyes worm pains, female sexual
farmland and sometimes in home gardens around the diseases, male sexual diseases, musculo-skeletal
compounds. Usually all the parts, such as leaves, stem, diseases, nervous diseases, respiratory diseases, skin
seeds, bark, fruits, roots and sometimes flowers of the diseases, snake bite, STD and others have been defined
plant are used (Table 2). But this depends on the user previously. In very rare cases the herbalists are spe-
and the particular need and to some extend the type of cialised in the treatment of certain illness such as
plant. Herbs for example are most often used whole madness and broken bones. Majority acknowledge that
meanwhile only some parts of large trees, such as; the they treat all sorts of illnesses. It was also realised that
bark, the leaves and the roots are used. These parts are some categories of herbalist treat patients according to
sometimes ground fresh or dry, boiled with water and/or directions from their ‘spiritual leaders’. In such cases, the
palm wine in different mixtures and proportions, con- same illness in two different people is treated with differ-
sumed raw, mixed with palm oil or honey or processed rent herbs (Adjanohoun et al., 1996). That is if a parti-
industrially for the production of medicines. The final cular herb worked for patient A with fibroid, it might not
products could be drunk, applied to the skin or wounds as necessarily work for patient B with the same complain
paste, tied around the body, inhaled or used for bathing. (Raponda and Sillans, 1961).
Dosages vary, depending on the end product and they
are not standardised. Commercialisation
Twenty four plants are recognized as commercialised
Types of plants used as medicine plants in these regions (Table 2). Within the area, there
are different categories of people involved in the comer-
Almost 100% of the herbalists visited use very common cialisation of medicinal plants. It is very common to find
herbs and trees around the houses and farmland for people in public places and markets selling different va-
medicine. Some also use very commonly cultivated vege- riety of plants. This category sells ordinary (unprocessed)
 Jiofack et al. 199

Table 1. Keck-list of medicinal plants species inventoried during the survey.

Scientific names of Diseases Parts used Mode of preparation Therapeutic indications

plants
Abrus precatorius Cough, Catarrh Fruit, leaves decoction, infusion respiratory diseases
Acalifa sp. Toothache, fever, dermatitis leaves decoction digestive diseases
Acanthus montanus Abdominal pains, boils, abscess Leaves decoction digestive diseases
Acmella caurlirhiza Typhoid, boils, toothache fruits maceration digestive diseases
Aframomum limbatum Wounds Fruit, leaves plasters others diseases
Magnifies the uses of other
medicines, typhoid, infected wound, Seeds, leaves,
Aframomum melegueta stimulant rhizome, fruits, roots decoction others diseases
Afzelia bipindensis heart ache, ear ache bark decoction others diseases
Agelanthus djurensis Menopause, cancer, fibroids leaves decoction female sexual diseases
Headache, night poison, quick
Ageratum conyzoides delivery, gastritis leaves decoction others diseases
skin and cutaneous
Albizia zygia Boils, diarrhoea, fracture Stem, leaves decoction diseases
Toothache, ear ache, excess skin and cutaneous
Alchornea cordifolia amniotic fluid Stem, bark decoction diseases
Alchornea floribunda Anaemia, lumbago, arthritis Stem, leaves maceration others diseases

Allanblackia floribunda Hernia, oedema Fruits, seeds maceration male sexual diseases
Allium cepa Sexual weakness, rheumatism rhizome decoction male sexual diseases
Allium sativum hypertension rhizome decoction others diseases
Malaria, wounds, dermatitis,
Aloe Vera poisoning Leaves decoction others diseases
Alsodeiopsis
weissenborniana Venereal diseases, headache, fever Leaves infusion STD
Malaria, worms, fracture, lactation
Alstonia boonei failure, chest pains, diarrhoea Bark, latex, leaves decoction others diseases
Diabetes, wounds, inflammation,
Anthocleista vogelii venereal diseases Stem bark, leaves decoction others diseases
Harungana
madagascarensis Haemorrhoids, colds bark decoction digestive diseases
Artemisia annua Malaria, fatigue Leaves, stem infusion others diseases
Artocarpus altitis Malaria, typhoid, haemorrhoids fruits decoction others diseases
Aspilia africana Fever, worms, backage Leaves, stem decoction others diseases
Asystasia gangetica Vomiting whole plant decoction digestive diseases
Malaria, mosquito repellent, typhoid,
Azadirachta indica intestinal worms Seeds, leaves, bark decoction others diseases
Baillonella toxisperma Related to child birth, rheumatism Fruit, bark decoction child diseases
Begonia sp Night poison Fruit, bark decoction others diseases
Bidens pilosa Periodic fever, malaria Leaves, branches decoction others diseases
Biophytum sp cough Fruit , leaves , bark decoction respiratory diseases
Dermatitis, conjunctivitis, skin and cutaneous
Bridelia micrantha rheumatism Whole plant powder diseases
Antiseptics, ear and eye infection,
Bryophyllum pinnatum boils, abscess, headache, cough Leaves, roots maceration others diseases
Caladium bicolor Vaginal inflammation Leaves, tuber decoction female sexual diseases
Leaves, bark,
Canarium schweinfurthii Gastritis, asthma, dermatitis rhizome decoction digestive diseases
Purgative, enhancer of other herbs,
Capsicum frutesens blood circulation fruits decoction digestive diseases
musculo-skeletal
Carapa procera Rheumatism, fruits decoction diseases
200 J. Med. Plant. Res.

Table 1.contd

Hypertension, malaria, worm

Carica papaya expeller Whole plant decoction others diseases
Cassia occidentalis Fever , typhoid, laxative, malaria Seeds, leafy stem decoction others diseases
Expels worms, eyes worm diseases,
Cassia alata fever, fast delivery, yellow fever leaves decoction digestive diseases
AIDS, chest pains, purgative, heart
Ceiba pentandra palpitations, diabetes gastritis Bark, leaves, roots decoction STD
Centella asiatica Vomiting, appendicitis Whole plant decoction digestive diseases
Chlerodendrun
scandens convulsion Leafy stem decoction child diseases
skin and cutaneous
Chromolaena odorata Fresh wounds Leaves, sap plasters diseases
Cinnamomum verum cough bark decoction respiratory diseases
Filariasis, kidney inflammation, skin and cutaneous
Citrus medica rheumatism fruits decoction diseases
Clausena anisata gastroenteritis Leaves stem decoction digestive diseases
Irregular menstrual cycle, breast
Cleome ciliata infection, heart ache Leafy stem decoction female sexual diseases
Coffea robusta Change of sex at child birth flower decoction child diseases
Stimulant, worm expeller, gastritis, Seed, leaves, bark,
Cola nitida rheumatism, chest pains roots eating nervous diseases
Commelina Ease child birth, ring worms,
benghalensis typhoid, blood clotting, headache Whole plant decoction child diseases
Corchorus olitorius childbirth leaves infusion child diseases
Costus afer Conjunctivitis , cough Leafy stem decoction eyes worm pains
musculo-skeletal
Coula edulis Rheumatism, dermatitis fruits eating diseases
Crinum purpurascens Wounds, dysentery , piles tuber powder others diseases
musculo-skeletal
Croton longiracemosus Measles, gastritis, dermatitis Seed and leaves decoction diseases
Crudia senegalis ear ache, antiseptics leaves decoction others diseases
Cucurbita maxima Aphrodisiac, sexual stimulant leaves decoction nervous diseases
Cymbopogon citratus Malaria, typhoid, cough leaves decoction others diseases
Cynodon dactylon Dizziness, hypertension, rib pains leaves, bark, roots decoction nervous diseases
Dacryodes edulis Snake bite leaves plasters snake bite
Desmodium sp Dysentery, piles Stem, leaves decoction digestive diseases
Dichrocephala
integrifolia eyes worm diseases, conjunctivitis Stem, leaves decoction others diseases
Diospyros sp madness roots decoction nervous diseases
Cough, dysentery, conjunctivitis,
Dissotis rotundiflora enteritis, catarrh Leafy stem decoction respiratory diseases
Dorstenia sp Aphrodisiac, sexual stimulant Root eating nervous diseases
Drynaria cordata Malaria, diabetes Leaves, root decoction others diseases
Elaeis guineensis Syphilis, gonorrhoea Young palm leaves decoction STD
skin and cutaneous
Eleusine indica wound dressing, cough, fatigue Whole plant decoction diseases
skin and cutaneous
Elytraria marginata wounds leaves powder diseases
Emilia coccinea Gastritis, ear ache, convulsion leaves decoction digestive diseases
Enantia chlorantha Malaria bark decoction others diseases
Entandophragma
angolense Diarrhoea, bellyache bark decoction digestive diseases
Eremomastax speciosa generalised pains, dermatitis leaves decoction others diseases
Erythrina excelsa Catarrh, arthritis Stem, leaves decoction others diseases
 Jiofack et al. 201

Table 1.contd

skin and cutaneous

Eryngium foetidum Abscess, boils Leaves plasters diseases
Erythrococca africana Gastritis, dysentery Roots, leaves seeds decoction digestive diseases
Eucalyptus
Camaldulensis Cough, catarrh Leaves decoction respiratory diseases
Eulophia horsfalli Bleeding piles stem bark decoction others diseases
Diarrhoea, gastritis, poisoning,
Euphobia hirta diabetes Whole plant decoction digestive diseases
Ficus exasperata Heart ache, ear ache, poisoning leaves decoction others diseases
Gambeya africana
(Chrysopyllum delevoyi) Malaria, constipation, typhoid fruit infusion others diseases
Cough, gastritis, sleeping sickness,
stimulant, gastroenteritis, speeds
Garcinia kola lactation Bark, seeds, roots decoction respiratory diseases
Indigestion, flatulence, stimulant,
Garcinia lucida diarrhoea, gastritis, gastralgia Bark, seeds, leaves decoction digestive diseases
Gastralgia, malaria, laxative, joint Fruit, leaves, bark,
Garcinia mannii pains, cracks in foot roots, latex decoction digestive diseases
Gnetum africanum Widlow, Ease child birth Leaves decoction others diseases
Gossypium arboreum Typhoid Leaves decoction digestive diseases
Guibourtia tessmannii cancer bark decoction others diseases
Harungana
madagascariesis Poisoning, diarrhoea leaves decoction others diseases
Helianthus annuus Piles Leaves, flowers decoction others diseases
Hibiscus rosa- sinensis Diarrhoea, dysentery leaves decoction digestive diseases
Hibiscus surattensis Palpitation, gastralgia Leaves, flower decoction others diseases
Impatiens sp Infertility, dysmenorrhoea Stem, leaves decoction female sexual diseases
skin and cutaneous
Impomea sp. colds leaves, powder diseases
Jateorhiza micrantha dysmenorrhoea Stem decoction female sexual diseases
musculo-skeletal
Jatropha curcas Rheumatism, dermatitis Stem, sap maceration diseases
Kalenchoe crenata Pneumonia, nose bleeding leaves infusion respiratory diseases
Kigelia africana Waist pain, breast infection fruit decoction others diseases
musculo-skeletal
Laccosperma opacum Rheumatism, cough, fracture Vines decoction diseases
Lantana camara Ear ache, filariasis, Leafy stem decoction others diseases
Anaemia, low calcium, fibroids,
Laportea aestuans dermatitis Leaves, stem, roots decoction others diseases
Poisoning, fontanels, flatulence,
Laportea ovalifolia tongue pains Leafy stem decoction digestive diseases
Leaves, stem,
Leea guineensis abdominal pains, malaria seeds, flower decoction digestive diseases
Leonotis spp Dysentery, filariasis, fever leaves decoction digestive diseases
musculo-skeletal
Lepidium meyenii Rheumatism leaves maceration diseases
Leucaena leucocephala Ease conception leaves, fruits decoction female sexual diseases
Lippia multifora Fever, typhoid leaves decoction others diseases
Lophira alata Stops vaginal discharge bark decoction female sexual diseases

Macaranga occidentalis stomach wash for pregnant women Stem, leaves decoction female sexual diseases
musculo-skeletal
Mangifera indica Rheumatism bark decoction diseases
Markhamia lutea Syphilis leaves decoction STD
202 J. Med. Plant. Res.

Table 1.contd

Melanthera scandens Gastralgia, appendicitis Leafy stem decoction digestive diseases

skin and cutaneous
Millicia excelsa generalised pains, typhoid, malaria bark decoction diseases

Mentha piperita carminative (stomach upset) leaves decoction digestive diseases

Microglossa sp Enema for babies, gastralgia Leaves decoction child diseases
skin and cutaneous
Mimosa ruidica Dermatitis, sexual weakness Leafy stem decoction diseases
Momordica balsamina Chest pains, side pain, rashes leaves decoction respiratory diseases
Stem, bark, leaves,
Morinda lucida stomach wounds roots decoction digestive diseases

Momordica charantia calms contraction pains at child birth Fruit, stem, leaves decoction child diseases
Momordica foetida threatened abortion, gastralgia leaves decoction female sexual diseases
Musa paradisiaca Vomiting, gastritis leaves decoction digestive diseases
skin and cutaneous
Musanga cecropiodes generalised pains, cough stem decoction diseases
Neoboutonia manii Wounds, gastritis bark, leaves decoction others diseases
Nephrolepis biserrata lower abdominal pains frond decoction digestive diseases
Nicotiana tabacum Headache, dermatitis , stimulant leaves plasters others diseases
Origanum marjorana Stress, colds leaves fumigation nervous diseases
Delayed menstruation, indigestion,
Ocimum basilicum mosquito bites Leaves, flowers decoction female sexual diseases
Gastritis, fever, frontal headache, Leaves, stem,
Ocimum gratissimum constipation, conjunctivitis flowers decoction digestive diseases
Palisota hirsuta Conjunctivitis, gastralgia, boils stem decoction others diseases
Panax sp Epilepsy, irregular menstrual cycle roots maceration nervous diseases
Constipation, stimulant, sexual
Pausinystalia johimbe weakness bark maceration others diseases

Pennisetum purpureum epilepsy Leaves, stem maceration nervous diseases

Pentaclethra Cardio-vascular disease,
macrophylla gonorrhoea fruit maceration others diseases
Persea americana antihelmintic Bark, leaves maceration others diseases

Piper guineensis Cough, stimulant, enema Whole plant maceration respiratory diseases
Change of sex at child birth, piles,
Piper umbellatum breast infection, calms birth pains Flower, leaves decoction child diseases
Enema for pregnant women, ease
Plectranthus decurrens delivery, Whole plant decoction others diseases
Dermatitis, venereal diseases, skin and cutaneous
Plectranthus glandulosus bellyache Leaves, sap plasters diseases
Portulaca oleracea Frontal headache, poisoning Leafy stem decoction others diseases
Malaria, gastralgia, chest pains,
Prunus africana heart burn, madness bark decoction others diseases
skin and cutaneous
Psidium guajava Wounds, diarrhoea leaves plasters diseases
Pycnanthus angolense Fever, toothache Stem, bark, leaves decoction others diseases
Rauvolfia vomitoria Typhoid, antihelmintic, heart ache leaves decoction others diseases
Rauwolfia macrophylla heart ache, infectious diseases Bark, roots decoction others diseases
Leaves, stem, roots,
Ricinus communis Sterility in women fruits decoction female sexual diseases
Rinorea dentata Headache, diarrhoea Fruits ,stem decoction others diseases
 Jiofack et al. 203

Table 1.contd

Sores, stroke, measles, sexual skin and cutaneous

Scoparia dulcis weakness Leaves, branchlets maceration diseases
Selaginella myosurus headache Whole plant maceration others diseases
Selaginella vogelii Kidney problems Whole plant maceration others diseases
skin and cutaneous
Setaria megaphylla Wounds, eczema leaves powder diseases
Sida javanensis Ease delivery, liver disorders, boils Fruit, leaves decoction female sexual diseases
musculo-skeletal
Solanecio biafrae Rheumatism, cough Leaves decoction diseases
Solanum gilo migraine Whole plant decoction others diseases
Poisoning, heart ache, lower
Solanum incanum abdominal pains leaves decoction others diseases
Solanum macrocarpon Diarrhoea, fever leaves decoction digestive diseases
Solanum melongena Waist pain Fruits, leaves decoction others diseases
Solenostemon
monostachyus Ease child birth, frontal headache Leafy stem decoction child diseases
Spathodea campanulata Crooked eye problem leaves decoction others diseases
Spilantes filicaulis Poisoning, eczema, cancer Whole plant decoction others diseases
Wound dressing, antihelmintic, skin and cutaneous
Stanfieldiella imperforata headache Leaves powder diseases
Starchytarpheta
angustifolia Laxative, fever, cough, toothache leaves decoction others diseases
Symphitium officinalis Diabetes, gastritis, rheumatism leaves decoction others diseases
Convulsion, diabetes, arthritis,
Tapinanthus globiferus antidote Leaves, flower decoction child diseases
Liver disorders, kidney problems,
Taraxacum officinale spleen problems, diuretic Whole plant decoction others diseases
Telfairia occidentalis Typhoid, dermatitis leaves decoction others diseases
stimulates lactation, convulsion,
Tetrapleura tetraptera gastralgia Fruit, stem decoction female sexual diseases
Thaumatococcus
daniellii Liver disorders, laxative Leaves, fruits decoction others diseases
Urethritis, abortion enema, infertility,
generalised pains, antimicrobial
Tragia volubilis diseases Stem, leaves decoction others diseases
skin and cutaneous
Treculia africana dermatitis Leaves, bark powder diseases
Antiparasitic diseases, fever,
Trichilia rubescens gonorrhoea, enema, antiseptics Bark, stem decoction others diseases

Triumfetta tomentosa stomach wash after childbirth leaves decoction female sexual diseases
skin and cutaneous
Uapaca spp Wounds, diarrhoea Leaves , stem powder diseases
Uvariodendron Dermatitis, liver disorders, bronchial skin and cutaneous
connivens congestion, inflammation of bladder Fruits, seeds decoction diseases
Nervous disorders, epilepsy,
Valeriana officinalis hysteria leaves decoction nervous diseases
Piles, poor digestion, poisoning,
Vernonia amygdalina diabetes leaves decoction others diseases
stops miscarriage, dysentery,
Vernonia stellullifera tetams Whole plant decoction female sexual diseases
Voacanga africana Treats madness, gonorrhoea Leaves, seeds decoction female sexual diseases
Zea mays Worm expeller, bladder problems Seed, silk decoction digestive diseases
musculo-skeletal
Zingiber officinale rheumatism roots decoction diseases
204 J. Med. Plant. Res.

plants to those who will go ahead to process for particular the nymph plant (A. indica) which is increasingly being
treatments as well as to any other person in the public planted as a shade tree around compounds and also
(Nkuinkeu et al, 2007). On the other hand, there are used as a treatment for malaria and typhoid.
modern traditional clinics in almost all major towns within The group of common herbs or weeds is highly used
the regions. Most of these clinics sell drugs based on the but not cultivated. A good example of this is the A.
prescription of the herbalist in charge and as mentioned conyzoides, which is popularly known as the ‘king plant’
above, are usually a combination of more than one plant and is used by almost a 100% of all the herbalists.
for a particular disease. The other groups of persons According to the herbalists there are no current or even
involved are those in the villages who are contracted by future threats on plants such as these, there is therefore
the plant users to supply plants to them from time to time. no need to actually go into their cultivation. They are
This is not often done on regular bases, except for however domesticated by some individuals to ease
industrialised plants such as the Pygeum, Prunus Afri- access whenever they are needed.
cana (Rosaceae); voacanga seeds, Voacanga Africana Some herbalists however admitted to the fact that they
(Apocynaceae); Yohimbe, Pausinystalia johimbe (Rubia- have made trials towards the cultivation and domestic-
ceae); Strophantus gratus (Apocynaceae) and Rauwolfia cation of some of these wild forest plant species, but
vomitoria (Apocynaceae) which are exploited for export, some cases have been unsuccessful, probably due to
(CERUT/AID Environment, 1999, Achoundong et al., habitat change or differences. The primary idea for this
2003; Nkuinkeu, 1998). The commercialized plants mate- attempt is not because they want to sell these plants, but
rials are barks, fruits, seeds, rhizomes, leaves, inflore- rather for them to easily get them when the need arises
scences, tubers, roots and latex. (Tongo and Ekwalla, 2003).
The Limbe Botanic Gardens in recent years have built
a collection of quite a wide range of medicinal plants,
Domestication and cultivation especially those used around the Mount Cameroon
region. This institution through the ‘conservation through
During this survey, it was realised that the cultivation of cultivation (CTC) programme, carried out propagation of
medicinal plants for commercial purposes is very limited some of the very useful and threatened medicinal plants
in these ethnoecological regions. All the commercial plant such as P. africana, E. chlorantha, Garcinia kola, and
gardens visited during this period revealed that none of Diospyros spp some of which were distributed to other
these actually took interest in the cultivation of medicinal interested persons or groups ( Nkuinkeu, 1998). Pre-
plants. According to one of the gardeners, the only sently the World Botanical Exchange and Services
reason for lack of medicinal plants in this garden is (WBES) has an established nursery for the propagation
because of lack of market for them. The demand for them of medicinal plants which it supplies to local farmers
is not as high as the ornamental plants. However, through the Mount Cameroon. Prunus common initiative
medicinal plants are being cultivated in smaller scales group (MOCAP CIG), a local group currently responsible
and this is done mainly in home gardens around com- for the harvesting and trade of the P. africana around the
pounds. Mt Cameroon region.
It was also realised that most of the plants domestic-
cated are exotic. In most cases the plants cultivated are
those that could not be easily found in the immediate Threatened or endangered species
locality of the user, especially Cinnamomum verrum,
Taraxacum officinale, Cymbopogon citratus, Solanum Generally plants become threatened when they are over
melonguena, Alliums sp, Zingiber officinale, Panax sp, harvested (exploited) for either medicine or timber or
Origanum marjorana, Mentha piperita, Arthemisia spp, when human activities such as agriculture and infrastruc-
Cassia alata, Valeriana officinalis, Azadirachta indica, tural development destroy them. It was realised that for
Cochorus olitorius, Ocimum basilicum and others (Mbile larger medicinal plant trees, mostly the barks and roots
et al., 2003; Nkuinkeu et al., 2007). are used, therefore collection requires stripping off of the
The indigenous plants such as P. africana and V. bark and digging out of roots. These parts are very
africana are the only highly used and traded plants that important for the survival of the plant. As such, if they are
are currently being cultivated by some individuals in taken off in an unsustainable manner the plant dries off.
villages. The motivating factor behind the cultivation of Unlike those that mainly the seeds and leaves are
these plants does not come from it being used locally but collected like G. kola, V. africana and Strophantus spp ,
rather because they are highly exploited for export (Mbile plants such as P. africana, E. chlorantha, Pausinystalia
et al., 2003). Other indigenous plants such as E. chlo- johimbe and others that the barks are being stripped off
rantha, Aframomum flavum, Pachypodiatum staudtii, suffer dryness and die easily. P. africana has in recent
Bersama abyssinica, Pseudospondias spp are exploited years suffered over-exploitation in all the areas where it
for trade but not yet cultivated (Ndive pers.comm., 2007). occurs because of its high demand internationally, it has
Others such as V. africana are seen spotted in farms and therefore been listed in the IUCN list as an endangered
compounds. There are also some exotic trees such as species, (IUCN, 2007).
 Jiofack et al. 205

Table 2. Commercialized plants species in the study areas

Scientific Names Families Part exploited

Aframomum flavum Zingiberaceae Leaves and fruits
Aframomum melegueta Zingiberaceae Fruit
Ageratum conyzoides Asteraceae Whole plant
Aloe vera Liliaceae Leaves
Azadirachta indica Meliaceae Leaves, bark
Baillonella toxisperma Sapotaceae Fruit, bark
Bersama abysinica Melianthaceae bark
Carica papaya Caricaceae Whole plant
Cassia alata Caesalpiniaceae Leaves
Dosternia mannii Moraceae roots
Enantia chorantha Annonaceae bark
Eremomastax speciosa Acanthaceae leaves
Garcinia kola Clusiaceae seed
Lippia multiflora Verbenaceae Leaves
Newbouldia laevis Bignoniaceae bark
Ocimum basilicum Lamiaceae Leaves, stem
Pachypodantium staudtii Annonaceae bark
Panax sp Panaceae Roots
Pausinystalia johimbe Apocynaceae bark
Prunus africana Rosaceae bark
Pseudospondias microcarpa Anacardiaceae bark
Pycnanthus angolense Myristicaceae Leaves
Solanum melongena Solanaceae fruit
Vernonia amygdalina Asteraceae Leaves

There is other category of plants mentioned by the Also the two main institutions that were involved in the
herbalists as very useful for medicine, but quite rare, propagation and distribution of medicinal plants in the
these include; njabe (Baillonella toxisperma), ebony South-West (LBG and Plantecam Medicam) have long
(Diospyros sp), pepper or iron wood (Lophira alata), black ceased to carry out these activities, therefore the promo-
afara (Terminalia sp), king stick (Guiburttia tessmannii) tion and support of the establishment of medicinal plant
and soap tree (Treculia africana) (Nkuinkeu et al., 2007; gardens by the government or other institutions is of
Vivien et Faure, 1985). These are highly sort after timber absolute necessity. In the other way, the trade benefits
species, as such explaining the reason for their being are focused in the informal economy, long term moni-
rare or scarce. Most of the interviewees mentioned that toring should be implemented both to determine the
there are particular forests where they go to look for impacts of harvesting on threatened and high value medi-
particular plants, and the plants are always available and cinal plants and to aid in devising guidelines for sustain-
do not seem threatened. Some mentioned that they have nable management of these resources; thus the neces-
cultivated the frequently used plants, for a more reliable sity to introduce cultivation of some high value and
supply thus contributing to their conservation (Check et threatened species.
al., 2004).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Conclusion
The authors want to express their gratitude to all the
Due to the multi-usefulness of plant, the list below is not institutions and individuals who gave out their books for
exhaustive in the region. The plant users contacted gene- this work. Our appreciation also goes to all the herbalist,
rally process their plants in one way or the other before medicinal plant vendors and naturopaths for taking time
sales or administration. off their busy schedules to answer the questions during
According to the stakeholders, nothing good or bene- this survey.
ficiary to them has ever come out from such surveys, as
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