WOROWOUNGA Xavier1, MADIAPEVO Stéphane Nazaire2, Ndotar Michel3, Mandago Jean Bedel4, and SYMBOLI Olivia5
1 Laboratoire d'Architecture, d'Analyse et de Réactivité des Substances Naturelles (LAARSN), Faculté des Sciences, Université de Bangui, Central African Republic
2 Faculty of Sciences, University of Bangui, BP 908, Central African Republic
3 Ecole Normale Supérieure, University of Bangui, Central African Republic
4 Ecole Normale Supérieure, University of Bangui, Central African Republic
5 Laboratory of Analysis, Architecture and Reactivity of Natural Substances (LAARSN), Central African Republic
Original language: English
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Abstract
The objective of this study is to understand the diversity of edible wild species sold on the markets of Bangui. To do this, ethnobotanical surveys on the marketing of these resources were carried out from September to December 2023 with 150 sellers installed in six popular markets in Bangui. In total, 86 plant species have been recorded distributed in 69 genera and 41 different families. The analysis of the results showed that the Leguminosae family is the richest (8 species); fruits (68.43%) and leaves (22.12%) are the most sold plant organs; edible fruits (45.16%) remain the most predominant category of uses; these species are mainly trees (55.83%) and are more present in forest ecosystems (52.33%). It also appears that these wild food plants were not only consumed for nutritional needs but also for the traditional treatment of 45 pathologies. These results demonstrate that there is still a high diversity of spontaneous food species in the Central African Republic. Given the dual nutritional and therapeutic interest of these resources, and also in the face of socio-economic issues and the change in food culture in urban areas, the promotion of this precious heritage is necessary and essential. Such an approach would be an opportunity both economically and nutritionally for local populations, particularly women. Also, it would be beneficial to deepen research on the phytochemistry of some spontaneous food plants with medicinal properties in order to achieve the manufacture of improved traditional medicines accessible to all.
Author Keywords: ethnobotany, wild edible plants, marketing, Central African Republic.
