Ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants used for breast cancer treatment among traditional herbalists and patients in Central and Western Cameroon.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
- 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 110, Dschang, Cameroon.
- 3Faculty of Agronomic and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon.
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaounde 1, P.O. Box 1364, Yaounde, Cameroon.
- 5Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaounde 1, P.O. Box 1364, Yaounde, Cameroon. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
The high diversity of ecology, climate, and floral of Cameroon constitutes a veritable reservoir of medicinal plants. The search for new, safe, effective, and inexpensive alternative therapies for the treatment of breast cancer is an urgent necessity in Africa. The aim of the study was to identify the medicinal plants recipes used by traditional herbalists to manage breast cancer diseases in four districts of the Central and Western region of Cameroon.Methods
We conducted cross sectional, qualitative and descriptive research through an ethnopharmacological survey from August 2024 to February 2025 amongst 92 participants, including 21 traditional herbalists from four districts in the Central and Western regions, and 71 patients with breast cancer disease. Traditional herbalists were selected using the snowball. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on plant-based treatment supplemented with a comprehensive literature review on the phytochemicals and therapeutic properties of these plants.Results
We have identified 29 plants species belonging to 19 families with total of 23 recipes used by the herbalists. 74% of these recipes (17) were prepared with more than one plant. The whole plant (n = 6 ;26.1%) and the bark (n = 5 ;21.7%) were the most commonly plant parts used for the recipes while the maceration was the main preparation method (n = 10;43.5%). Water was the solvent frequently used (n = 18;78.3%) and all these remedies were administrated only per os (n = 23;100%) with a dosage ranging from one and half to four glasses per day for a duration of treatment from one to twelve months. Only 10% of breast cancer patients reported being completely satisfied, unlike traditional herbalists who claim that 50% of breast cancer patients who received their treatment were cured. In most of the remedies, there was anticancer plants used as main ingredient and an adjuvant. Part of Syzygium guineense (Willd) DC, Var Guineen constitute the most frequent main ingredient (n=3/RFC=0.13) of the recipes while the most represented adjuvant (n=8/RFC=0.35 ) was Allium sativum L. The highest mean informant consensus factor for breast cancer treatment was obtained for Allium Sativum L. (0.36).Conclusion
The study reveals a wide diversity of recipes for the treatment of breast cancer in the Cameroonian pharmacopoeia.
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BibTeX
@article{fongho2026ethnopharmacological,
title = {{Ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants used for breast cancer treatment among traditional herbalists and patients in Central and Western Cameroon.}},
author = {Constantin Chokofi Fongho and Alfloditte Flore Feudjio and Natacha Lena Yembeau and Paul Jean Assam Assam and Etienne Okobalemba Atenguena and Constant Anatole Pieme},
journal = {BMC complementary medicine and therapies},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12906-026-05446-8},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42894203},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants used for breast cancer treatment among traditional herbalists and patients in Central and Western Cameroon.
AU - Constantin Chokofi Fongho
AU - Alfloditte Flore Feudjio
AU - Natacha Lena Yembeau
AU - Paul Jean Assam Assam
AU - Etienne Okobalemba Atenguena
AU - Constant Anatole Pieme
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/22
JO - BMC complementary medicine and therapies
DO - 10.1186/s12906-026-05446-8
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42894203
AB - Background The high diversity of ecology, climate, and floral of Cameroon constitutes a veritable reservoir of medicinal plants. The search for new, safe, effective, and inexpensive alternative therapies for the treatment of breast cancer is an urgent necessity in Africa. The aim of the study was to identify the medicinal plants recipes used by traditional herbalists to manage breast cancer diseases in four districts of the Central and Western region of Cameroon.Methods We conducted cross sectional, qualitative and descriptive research through an ethnopharmacological survey from August 2024 to February 2025 amongst 92 participants, including 21 traditional herbalists from four districts in the Central and Western regions, and 71 patients with breast cancer disease. Traditional herbalists were selected using the snowball. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on plant-based treatment supplemented with a comprehensive literature review on the phytochemicals and therapeutic properties of these plants.Results We have identified 29 plants species belonging to 19 families with total of 23 recipes used by the herbalists. 74% of these recipes (17) were prepared with more than one plant. The whole plant (n = 6 ;26.1%) and the bark (n = 5 ;21.7%) were the most commonly plant parts used for the recipes while the maceration was the main preparation method (n = 10;43.5%). Water was the solvent frequently used (n = 18;78.3%) and all these remedies were administrated only per os (n = 23;100%) with a dosage ranging from one and half to four glasses per day for a duration of treatment from one to twelve months. Only 10% of breast cancer patients reported being completely satisfied, unlike traditional herbalists who claim that 50% of breast cancer patients who received their treatment were cured. In most of the remedies, there was anticancer plants used as main ingredient and an adjuvant. Part of Syzygium guineense (Willd) DC, Var Guineen constitute the most frequent main ingredient (n=3/RFC=0.13) of the recipes while the most represented adjuvant (n=8/RFC=0.35 ) was Allium sativum L. The highest mean informant consensus factor for breast cancer treatment was obtained for Allium Sativum L. (0.36).Conclusion The study reveals a wide diversity of recipes for the treatment of breast cancer in the Cameroonian pharmacopoeia.
SN - 2662-7671
ER -