Simultaneous Use of Medicinal Plants and Anticancer and Antihypertensive Drugs in Cancer Patients and Hypertensive Patients: A Case Study from Point G Hospital

Cancer and hypertension are two of the leading causes of death worldwide. Earlier detection, treatment and better monitoring ensure effective management. The objective was to study the prevalence and identify the medicinal plants consumed by patients with cancer and high blood pressure. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study on the use of medicinal plants by patients undergoing chemotherapy and patients taking antihypertensive drugs, monitored respectively in the medical hematology-oncology department and the cardiology department of the Point-G University Hospital. The prevalence of medicinal plant use was 41.7% (n = 79) among patients undergoing chemotherapy and 59.2% (n = 61) among patients taking antihypertensive medication. Among these patients, women accounted for more than 62% in both cases. The main sources of information on the use of plants were traditional healers, followed by parents. A total of 37 plants species belonging to 22 families were recorded. The Fabaceae family was the most represented, followed by the Combretaceae family. The three most commonly used plants were <i>Guiera senegalensis, Combretum micranthum</i> and <i>Saba senegalensis</i> in patients undergoing chemotherapy and used in combination with carboplatin and ondansetron. Those of patients taking antihypertensive drugs were <i>Euphorbia hirta, Combretum micranthum </i>and<i> Moringa oleifera</i>, used in combination with Amlodipine, Furosemide and Bisoprolol. The risk of side effects was twice as high (relative risk = 2.07) in patients taking antihypertensive drugs who also consumed plants. The study revealed a high prevalence of medicinal plant use. There is a link between the occurrence of adverse effects and plant use.