Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in the treatment of gastroenteritis and urinary tract infections in children aged 0–5 in the city of Guelendeng and its surroundings

In recent years, there has been growing interest in researching and developing new molecules with antimicrobial properties from various natural sources, with the aim of combating antibiotic resistance. This study was conducted with the aim of identifying medicinal plants used in the treatment of gastroenteritis and urinary tract infections in children under five in the city of Guelendeng and its surroundings. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted using questionnaires with 33 traditional practitioners. Fieldwork allowed samples of the four most frequently cited plants for the two infections to be collected for identification and testing on bacterial strains. A total of 13 plants indicated for the treatment of gastroenteritis and 11 for the treatment of urinary tract infections were identified, distributed respectively among 7 and 6 families. The Fabaceae family is dominant (38.48% and 36.37%). Most of the respondents were women (55%), and most were not literate (48.49%) or had a primary education (39.39%). The floral diversity constitutes a natural resource for traditional medicine. Studies of this kind should encourage everyone to protect the flora. Keywords: medicinal plants, gastro-intestinal and urinary infections, children under 5.