Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions in traditional medicine in Kampemba-Lubumbashi, DR Congo

For a long time, vegetation has provided man with remedies to deal with his health problems such as erectile dysfunction. This study was conducted to inventory plants and recipes used in traditional medicine in Kampemba (Lubumbashi) in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions. This descriptive ethnobotanical survey was carried out between October 2017 and June 2018. It was conducted by direct interview using a guide questionnaire with 34 practitioners of traditional medicine (PMT). The 34 PMT consulted were mainly men (sex ratio Man / Women = 2.09) aged 49 ± 11 years. They provided information on 51 recipes and 33 plants among which only 21 species have been scientifically identified. Albizia adianthifolia (Schum.) W. Wight (Fabaceae) and Pericopsis angolensis (Baker) Meeuwen (Fabaceae) are the most cited species. These 21 plants are mostly trees (57%) belonging to 12 families dominated by Fabaceae (21.2%) and indicated in 22 pathologies dominated by sexual impotence with a fidelity level (FL) of 0.59. From these plants derive 37 recipes from which the root is the most used organ (75.7%). The decoction (45.9%) and the drink (78.4%) are respectively the methods of preparation and administration route most requested. This study reports for the first time the aphrodisiac use of 8 plants among which, Schrebera trichoclada Welw (Oleaceae), Strychnos stuhlmannii Gilg (Loganiaceae) and Terminalia mollis MA Lawson (Combretaceae) have the highest fidelity index (FL) (FL> 0.1). Kampemba PMTs know and use aphrodisiac plants whose investigations deserve to be continued to validate their traditional knowledge.