Usage ethnomédical de Cola congolana De Wild. & T. Durand (Malvaceae) à Gbado-Lite, Nord Ubangi en République Démocratique du Congo.

Abstract

This study aimed to document and quantitatively analyze the ethnomedicinal uses of Cola congolana in Gbado-Lite in order to promote local knowledge and identify the therapeutic potential of this species. The snowball sampling method was used as previously described. In terms of age, nearly half of the participants (47%) were between 18 and 35 years old, 35% were aged 36 to 50, and 18% were over 50 years old. The gender distribution was perfectly balanced, with 50% women and 50% men. Regarding educational level, the majority had not gone beyond primary education (48%), while 39% had a secondary level, 12% had no formal education, and only 1% had a higher education degree. From an occupational perspective, most participants were farmers (56%), followed by traders (13%), students (11%), traditional healers (8%), artisans (7%), and other professions (5%). Finally, the ethnic distribution shows considerable diversity, with a predominance of the Ngbandi tribe (32%), followed by Ngbugbu (17%), Ngbaka (14%), Mbanza (13%), Ngombe (13%), and Mono (9%), while the Fulu tribe was the least represented (2%). Nearly all respondents used the seed (97%) rather than the bark (3%). Regarding frequency of use, 41% used it daily, 26% two to three times per week, 27% rarely, and only 6% once a month. The main form of use was chewing (97%), while topical application (1%) and infusion (2%) were very uncommon. Preparation was always monospecific, meaning it involved a single ingredient. The route of administration was predominantly oral (99%), with marginal use via massage (1%). The duration of use varied: 39% had been using it for less than one month, 34% for more than one year, while the remainder reported use lasting between 1 and 12 months. Finally, the main reasons for use were to improve general health (55%) or to treat a specific disease (44%), with very few using it for disease prevention (1%).