Ethnobotanical study and vulnerability of Vitex doniana Sweet (Lamiaceae) in the peri-urban forest of Gbado-Lite, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

The present study aims at the ethnobotanical study of a wild food plant, Vitex doniana (Lamiaceae) as well as its vulnerability in the peri-urban area of Gbado-Lite, in the Province of Nord-Ubangi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The study revealed that the majority of respondents were men (72.2%) compared to 27.8% of women. The majority of respondents were between the ages of 18 and 35 (39.4%), followed by those between 36 and 50 (34.4%) and finally those over 50 (26.1%). The majority of respondents are Ngbandi (63.9%), followed by Ngbaka (19.4%), Ngombe (10.56%) and Mbanza (6.11%). The majority of respondents have a secondary level of education (30%), followed by primary level (29.4%), illiterate (22.8%) and finally university graduates (17.78%). The majority of respondents is married (56.7%), followed by single (35.5%), and finally widowed (7.78%). The majority of respondents harvest this plant in the forest (77.2%) while others buy it at the market (22.8%). The most used part of the plant is the fruit, followed respectively by stems, barks, roots, leaves and finally seeds. The disease most treated by this plant is malaria, followed by diarrhea and wound. The decoction is the most used method of preparation. The species is currently considered to be scarce among the majority of respondents (37.8%). However, 35% of the respondents confirmed the rarity of the species, compared to 27.2% who felt that the species was still abundant. The calculated value of the vulnerability index linked to uncontrolled exploitation (Iv > 2.5) shows that V. doniana to be very vulnerable in its natural environment. Given the richness of this wild food plant in nutrients, it is therefore desirable that it be domesticated for its valorization.

Keywords: Vitex doniana, wild edible plant, medicinal plant, nutraceutical, domestication