MEDICINAL PLANTS AND MEDICAL PRACTICE IN BURKINA FASO: A CASE STUDY ON THE SAN PEOPLE

As an important cultural element, plants have been used centuries ago by people to treat themselves. However, a few ethnic groups know their medicinal plants used. This study aim is to document San people, localized in a traditional land (Burkina Faso north-western) about medicinal plants. Ethnobotanical surveys have involved 75 traditional healers indigenous. Research information's covered plants used, its local name, its parts used, the medical practices and the therapeutic properties related. The results showed that 94 plant species are used to treat various diseases. The main parts used in recipes are leaves (31%), root (25%) and stem bark (23%). Recipes developed are based on one or several plants. Decoction (58%), trituration (17%) and aqueous maceration (11%) are main methods of preparation. Drugs are administered through oral drunk (65%) and external applications (35%). Thirteen used categories are identified. However, traditional healers are disagreements about proposed therapeutic to treat them. The diversity of therapies identified in San land, is a rich culture. These San pharmacopoeia data lay the foundation of sound studies on silvicultural plants capacities for regenerating endangered useful species and building nurseries to provide surrounding villages with available medicinal plants.