Natural Therapeutics Against Prostate Disorders in Guinea: An Ethnobotanical Survey and Biological Activities of Some Medicinal Plants

Tanou V. Bah; Véronique Mégalizzi; Séré Diané; Mamadou S.T. Diallo; Mohamed K. Camara; Ansoumane Oularé; Ian Tietjen; Elhadj S. Baldé

doi:10.26538/tjnpr/v9i10.24

Authors

Tanou V. Bah
Véronique Mégalizzi Departement of Microbiology, Bioorganic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bd du Triomphe BP 1050, Brussels, Belgium
Séré Diané Guinea Institute for Research and Development of Medicinal and Food Plants, BP 6411, Dubréka, Guinea.
Mamadou S.T. Diallo Guinea Institute for Research and Development of Medicinal and Food Plants, BP 6411, Dubréka, Guinea.
Mohamed K. Camara Guinea Institute for Research and Development of Medicinal and Food Plants, BP 6411, Dubréka, Guinea.
Ansoumane Oularé Guinea Institute for Research and Development of Medicinal and Food Plants, BP 6411, Dubréka, Guinea.
Ian Tietjen The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
Elhadj S. Baldé Guinea Institute for Research and Development of Medicinal and Food Plants, BP 6411, Dubréka, Guinea.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v9i10.24

Keywords:

Ethnobotanical, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Prostate, Guinea

Abstract

Limited access to healthcare has led many Guineans, particularly in rural areas, to rely on medicinal plants to treat health issues, including prostate disorders. This study aimed to collect information on medicinal plants traditionally used in Guinea to manage prostate diseases and investigate their in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. An ethnobotanical investigation was conducted in three Guinean regions, where 277 traditional healers were interviewed and medicinal plants were collected for study. A total of 55 plant species belonging to 29 botanical families were identified. Fifteen plant species were evaluated for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Among the 15 plants tested, the highest polyphenol content was found in the methanol extract of Alchornea cordifolia (335.7 ± 19.3 mg EAG/g extract). Promising antioxidant activity, including the ability to scavenge free radicals and reduce metal ions, was observed in Khaya senegalensis A.Juss. and Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach.). Müll.Arg., and Anonychium africanum (Guill. & Perr.), at a concentration of 500 µg/mL. The highest anti-inflammatory activity was exhibited by Azadirachta indica A.Juss., Paullinia pinnata (L.), Tamarindus indica L., and Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C.C.Berg, and Harungana madagascariensis Lam. Ex Poir. with IC50 ≥50%. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the medicinal plants used by Guinean traditional healers in the management of prostate diseases. Several plant species have also demonstrated significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, suggesting their potential as sources for developing new therapeutic leads to target non-communicable diseases, such as cancer.

Author Biographies

Tanou V. Bah

Department of Pharmacy, University Gamal Abdel Nasser of Conakry, BP 1017, Guinea.

Departement of Microbiology, Bioorganic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bd du Triomphe BP 1050, Brussels, Belgium
Mamadou S.T. Diallo, Guinea Institute for Research and Development of Medicinal and Food Plants, BP 6411, Dubréka, Guinea.

^{Department of Pharmacy, University Gamal Abdel Nasser of Conakry, BP 1017, Guinea.}
Mohamed K. Camara, Guinea Institute for Research and Development of Medicinal and Food Plants, BP 6411, Dubréka, Guinea.

^{Department of Pharmacy, University Gamal Abdel Nasser of Conakry, BP 1017, Guinea.}
Elhadj S. Baldé, Guinea Institute for Research and Development of Medicinal and Food Plants, BP 6411, Dubréka, Guinea.

Department of Pharmacy, University Gamal Abdel Nasser of Conakry, BP 1017, Guinea.

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