Contribution to the ethnobotanical study and uses in the traditional pharmacopoeia of Kinkéliba (Combretum micranthum G. Don) in Mauritania

This study, conducted nationwide in Mauritania, aims to identify the knowledge and uses of Combretum micranthum G. Don in traditional pharmacopoeia, particularly for treating human and animal diseases. The methodology employed consisted of surveys conducted through questionnaires between January 2023 and December 2024. These questionnaires contained targeted questions and gathered responses from 200 people, including 29% women and 71% men. The results show that C. micranthum is widely known (95% of participants), especially for its therapeutic uses (61.5%). The plant is used to treat human ailments such as hypertension (43%), diabetes (21.5%), facility digestive issues (18.5%), constipation and toothaches (5.5%), paludism (3.0%), and dysentery (1.0%) etc. It is also used to treat animals, addressing issues such as digestive disorders (26.5%), fever (15.0%), diarrhea (10.0%), and wounds (2.5%), although nearly half of the participants are unaware of these uses. The leaves of the plant (70%) are the most commonly used parts, followed by the fruits (16%), the whole plant (7%), flowers (4.5%), roots (3%), and bark (1.5%). The most common methods of administration are decoction (43.5%), infusion (37.5%), external application (8%), inhalation (7.5%), and maceration (3.5%). A concerning point is that 88% of participants are unaware of the potential toxicity of the plant, which could pose risks if misused. The informant consensus factor for human and animal diseases shows that hypertension and digestive disorders have the highest values, respectively at 0.88 and 0.94. In terms of fidelity, the use of human diseases reaches 78.18%, primarily for hypertension, while for animal diseases, the fidelity levels range from 50% to 100% for digestive disorders, fever, and diarrhea. This study highlights the importance of the plant in traditional medicine while emphasizing the need to raise awareness about the risks associated with its use.