Abstract
Diabetes and infectious diseases remain major public health challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, including Benin. In many developing countries, including Benin, medicinal plants such as Uvaria chamae are used for their management. Despite its widespread use in traditional medicine in Benin, limited systematic data exist on its applications, conservation status, and socio-cultural factors influencing its use. This study aimed to document the traditional uses of U. chamae among practitioners in Benin for the treatment of diabetes and infectious diseases, while exploring opportunities for its valorization and conservation. This cross-sectional survey, conducted between February and March 2025, used a mixed-methods design. Questionnaires were administered to 186 traditional medicine practitioners across seven departments. The findings showed high recognition of U. chamae among respondents (87.1%), with leaves (44.9%) and fruits (36.7%) being the main identification criteria. The plant is predominantly harvested in the wild (72.2%), and 86.1% of respondents reported a sharp decline in its availability. Despite this, only 32.8% reported implementing conservation measures, although 92.6% expressed willingness to adopt them. Chi-square analysis revealed a significant association between the ethnic origin and the use of U. chamae for the treatment of diabetes (p = 0.019) and infectious diseases (p = 0.001). Respondents showed strong agreement on the use of U. chamae for infectious diseases (Fidelity Level 89.2%) and diabetes (36.2%). Forty-three plants were reported to be used in combination with U. chamae for the treatment of diabetes and infectious diseases. This study showed that the use of U. chamae is deeply rooted in ethnic traditions and highlights the need for in-depth studies on its therapeutic potential for the identified conditions, as well as for sustainable conservation strategies incorporating local knowledge.
Acknowledgements
Funding for this research was provided by the Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur (ARES) through the partnership of the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin, and the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium within the framework of the funded project PRD-2024 VALUCHAM. The authors are also very grateful to the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). These two institutions have made this research possible through research funding allocated to the research team under the 2024 TWAS Research Award/ 24-021 RG/BIO/AF/AC_G.
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Ethical approval
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Substances, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin (Approval No. 0018/2024/CE/URMAPha/UAC). It was conducted in accordance with local regulations in Benin and with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. It was approved on 20 January 2025 by the institutional review board of the Doctoral School of Life and Earth Sciences of the University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin) as part of a thesis project, under the registration number 40651925, for the award of a PhD in Plant Sciences and Pharmacopeia.
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All participants gave written informed consent on 3 February 2025 prior to data collection. Participants were given clear information about the aims of the study, the methods of data collection and their rights, including the freedom to withdraw from the study at any time without consequence. They gave their consent to the use and publication of the data, including in anonymized form. The form included a formal undertaking by the researcher and the participant to abide by all the agreed conditions, with signatures from the participant and the researcher, as well as the date of signature. No minors took part in this study. Each participant received a copy of the signed consent form. Traditional practitioners (TPs) were selected for this study by the National Program for Pharmacopeia and Traditional Medicine of the Ministry of Health of Benin, based on their recognized reputation and willingness to participate. Interviews were conducted in languages commonly spoken by TPs, including Fon, Mahi, Adja, Dendi, Bariba, Tchabè, and French. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants after providing them with clear information about the study. For illiterate TPs, the consent form was explained with the assistance of a trusted witness (who understands both French and the local language spoken by the participant) chosen by the participant, after which their consent was formally documented.
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Hounsou, K.E., Agbodjento, E., Togonou, F. et al. Ethnobotanical survey of Uvaria chamae L. in the management of diabetes and infectious diseases in Benin, West Africa. Humanit Soc Sci Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-07670-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-07670-6
