Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used in the treatment of prostate diseases in southern Benin

CONTEXT: Medicinal plants play an important role in the prevention and treatment of several diseases in Africa. They are the first resort for patients with Prostate Diseases (PD) as soon as the first symptoms appear in Benin; PD, particularly prostate cancer, are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and in Benin. This study aims to document the medicinal plants used by populations in southern Benin in the prevention and treatment of prostate diseases and to carry out chemical screening and larval toxicity testing on the most commonly used plants. METHODS: Using a structured questionnaire, 41 herbalists and 27 traditional healers who agreed to participate in the study were interviewed on plants they use in the prevention and treatment of PD. The parts of these plants, their methods of use, and their route of administration were recorded. A triangulation was conducted on medicinal plants cited by herbalists and traditional healers in order to identify their pharmacological properties. Qualitative phytochemical screening based on colour and/or precipitation reactions and the larval toxicity test evaluating the survival of brine shrimp larvae in the presence of different extracts were carried out on the eight most commonly used plants. RESULT: A total of 28 medicinal plants species belonging to 28 families and 29 genus were collected and identified. All plants were administered orally. The dominant family was Annonaceae (11%). The main species according to frequency of citation (FC = percentage of informants who cited the plant) were Caesalpinia bonduc (FC = 36%), Bambusa vulgaris (FC = 29%), and Annona muricata (FC = 21%). Decoctions were the preferred method of preparation, and roots were the most commonly used part of the plant. The plants, rich in flavonoids, tannins, and coumarins, were non-toxic. Data analysis showed that Caesalpinia bonduc was the most widely used plant in southern Benin for treating prostate diseases. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a significant diversity of medicinal plants traditionally used to treat PD in southern Benin. The predominance of Annonaceae families, the preferential use of roots in decoctions, and the richness in non-toxic bioactive metabolites support these traditional practices. Further pharmacological studies are needed to validate their therapeutic efficacy.