Ethnomedicinal And Phytochemical Screening Of Loranthaceae In Tombel Subdivision, Cameroon

Abstract

Loranthaceae causes abnormal growth and decrease in plant productivity. Despite their harmful character, mistletoes are widely used throughout the world in traditional medicine. This study was conducted to explore baseline data on ethnomedicinal and phytochemical characteristics of Loranthaceae. A survey was done in forty (40) villages to identify species of Loranthaceae and host plants. Questionnaires were administered to obtain information about ethnobotany as well as diseases targeted by mistletoes. Loranthaceae species which had medicinal uses together with their respective host plants were screened for the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, steroids, phenols, cardiac glycosides, and saponins. Ethnobotanical results showed that 3 species of Loranthaceae (P. capitata, T. ogowensis and T. apodanthus) were used to treat 40 human diseases. The most used organs were the leaves (91.11% response). Concoction (50.37% response), was the most commonly used method of preparation of recipe. The mistletoe species with the highest relative frequency of citation was Phragmanthera capitata (45.19). Phytochemical analysis showed that these plants were rich in phenols and steroids together with their host plants, but the quantity of these chemicals were higher in the mistletoes than their respective host. Caution should be exercised in the use of Loranthaceae as phytomedicine.