Plantes médicinales utilisées dans la prise en charge traditionnelle de la dysfonction érectile chez les Ngbandi de Yakoma (Nord-Ubangi, République démocratique du Congo) : inventaire ethnobotanique et enjeux de conservation

Abstract

This study documents medicinal plants used in the traditional management of erectile dysfunction by the Ngbandi community of Yakoma, North Ubangi Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and examines conservation issues associated with reported harvesting practices. A descriptive cross-sectional ethnobotanical survey based on open and semi-structured interviews and purposive sampling was conducted between March and April 2026 among 150 informants, with 50 participants from each of the three sectors (Abuzi, Wapinda and Yakoma). Twenty-five plant species belonging to 25 genera and 19 families were recorded. Mostuea brunonis Didr. had the highest relative frequency of citation (RFC = 0.167), followed by Alchornea cordifolia and Mangifera indica (0.113 each) and Piper guineense (0.100). The informant consensus factor for the single pathological category studied was 0.84; this value indicates convergence of citations but does not demonstrate therapeutic efficacy. Rubiaceae were the best-represented family (16%), followed by Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Malvaceae (8% each). Shrubs predominated (36%), followed by trees and lianas (24% each) and herbs (16%). Roots were the most frequently reported plant parts (69%), followed by leaves (15%) and bark (7%). Stem and root bark stripping was the main reported harvesting technique (82%), and decoction the main preparation method (68%); water was the most frequently reported additive (49.3%). Respondents mainly attributed the disorder to hard labour (48%) and witchcraft (31%). Almost all respondents (98%) reported preferring traditional medicine. Deforestation was the most frequently perceived threat (65.3%). The findings identify potentially damaging harvesting practices and support the need for sustainable harvesting measures and complementary ecological and pharmacological studies.