Ethnobotanical survey of plants used in the management of malaria in the Guinée Forestière region, Guinea

In Africa, malaria is a major public health issue, often managed in the traditional way by traditional practitioners. This study aimed to identify traditional practitioners and medicinal plants used in malaria treatment. The sample included 53 traditional practitioners interviewed and 35 plant species identified as being used against malaria. The interviews explored the socio-demographic characteristics of traditional practitioners and the medicinal plants used. Each interview was followed by field trips to collect or acquire plant samples from herbalists. The study took place from September to December 2022. The results showed that the majority of traditional therapists (74.19%) were men, while herbalists (77.27%) were mostly women. As regards the age distribution, 83.87% of traditional therapists and 86.36% of herbalists were 35 years or older. Among the ethnic groups, Tomas and Guerzés were the most represented, with 35.48% and 22.58% of traditional therapists and 36.36% and 27.27% of herbalists, respectively. Leaves (60%) were the most commonly used plant parts, decoction (57.14%) was the main method of preparation, and the oral route (65.71%) was the most frequent route of administration. This descriptive ethnobotanical study provides valuable data on traditional malaria treatment practices and knowledge and highlights the importance of developing and promoting methods for preserving medicinal plants.