Redondance fonctionnelle entre les champignons et les plantes dans le système médico-magique traditionnel de l'aire culturelle Nagot au Benin.

Abstract

In Sub-Saharan Africa, while pharmacopoeias rely heavily on plant resources, the role of fungi and their functional interaction with plants remain largely unexplored. This study examines functional redundancy between fungi and plants within the Nagot traditional medico-magical system in Central Benin. A mixed-methodological approach combining free-listing inventories and ranking exercises was conducted with 30 traditional healers. Semi-structured interviews were carried out in Yoruba language. Data analysis employed Jaccard's similarity index, Cramer's V coefficient, hierarchical classification based on correspondence analysis, and binomial logistic regression. A total of 70 therapeutic functions were identified, involving 23 fungal species and 61 plant species. Analysis shows no systematic preference for either group when both resources are simultaneously available for treating common pathologies. However, fungi are selected exclusively based on perceived effectiveness, with seasonal availability not being a determining factor in therapeutic choice. This study highlights the contribution of fungi to local healthcare system resilience and suggests their potential role in reducing the pressure on threatened medicinal plants.