Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42387349›Full record

ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2026

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

Mahouwena Germaine Avohou, Relique Ignace Agbo, Dewanou Casimir Akpovi, Augustin Gaetan Julien Segbo, Antoine Abel Missihoun, Mahoudo Fidèle Assogba, Clément Agbangla

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mahouwena Germaine AvohouFaculty of Science and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Genome Analysis, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Republic of Benin. germonews@gmail.com.
Relique Ignace AgboFaculty of Science and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Genome Analysis, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Dewanou Casimir AkpoviResearch Laboratory and Applied Biology, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Augustin Gaetan Julien SegboResearch Laboratory and Applied Biology, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Antoine Abel MissihounFaculty of Science and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Genome Analysis, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Mahoudo Fidèle AssogbaFaculty of Science and Technology, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Essential Oils, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP: 918 ISBA, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Clément AgbanglaFaculty of Science and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Genome Analysis, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

contextMedicinal 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.

methodsUsing 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.

resultA 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.

conclusionThis 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.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeMedicine, African TraditionalPhytotherapyPlant ExtractsPlants, MedicinalProstatic DiseasesAdultAnimalsBeninFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesPlant ExtractsChemical screeningEthnobotanyMedicinal plantsProstate diseasesSouthern Benin

Identifiers

PMID42387349
PMCPMC13595600

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.