Medicinal Uses of Macromycetes Among Populations in Ecological Zone II of Togo

Objective : To comprehensively document the medicinal uses of macromycetes among the riparian populations of Ecological Zone II of Togo, with a view to their sustainable management. Material And Methods : The mushrooms were collected from the vegetation formations of the ecological zone and then presented to the local riparian population. The medicinal mushrooms were identified by the local population, who specified the type of disease treated, the mode of use, and the dosage. For species identification, macroscopic and microscopic studies were conducted on each species, allowing for the determination of their names. For statistical analyses, the R software was used for Correspondence Factor Analysis, and the Canoco software was used for PCA analyses. Résultats : The bivariate analysis shows that the use of medicinal mushrooms is not linked to ethnicity (Chi-2 = 96.105; p = 0.106). The Correspondence Analysis (CA) reveals three groups of diseases : G1 (mild conditions) treated by the Tem and Kabyè, G2 (more severe pathologies) treated by the Bassar, and G3 (serious diseases such as cancer and diabetes) cited by the Nawdba and Moba. The Dim1 (42.7%) and Dim2 (25.8%) axes together explain 68.5% of the variance, highlighting a severity gradient of diseases. The PCA analysis shows that different populations exploit various fungal species to treat different diseases, with a single species capable of addressing multiple ailments. Six groups are distinguished based on their medicinal properties: G1 (Termitomyces schimperi, Volvariella earlei) linked to immunity and cancer, G2 (Pleurotus sp.) associated with diabetes, G3 (Polyporus squarrosulus) with asthma, G4 (Ganoderma colossus) with hormonal disorders, G5 (Daldinia eschscholzii) with ulcers, and G6 (Phellinus sp.) with cardiovascular diseases. Ganoderma lucidum, positioned at the center, appears to have a broad therapeutic spectrum. Conclusion : The use of medicinal mushrooms transcends ethnic boundaries and adapts based on transmitted knowledge and encountered pathologies. PCA has identified the species with the highest therapeutic potential according to medical indications. Keywords : Medicinal mushrooms, Ethnopharmacology, Principal Component Analysis, Ecological Zone II, Togo