Ethno-medicinal Use of Crotalaria retusa L. (Fabaceae), a Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Toxic Plant

Objective: This current study was designed to investigate the ethno-medicinal uses of C. retusa and to learn about the knowledges of its toxicity.

Methods: Questionnaires were administered to herbalists and traditional healers from Ouagadougou town in national language Mooré or Dioula. Data on the ethno-medicinal use of C. retusa, the plant part used, the modes of preparation and administration and the knowledges on its toxicity were collected for each interviewed respondents. Relative frequency of citation of each disease was calculated using Microsoft Excel software

Results: C. retusa is mentioned by all the respondents to be used in the folklore system of medicine for the treat of various diseases including infectious and psychotropic diseases. Nine (09) diseases treated with C. retusa have been cited by respondents. The most diseases cited were congenital syphilis (72.5%) followed by malaria (7.5%) and hallucinations (7.5%). The whole plant is more used and the decoction is the main form of preparation. The main modes of the administration of the drug were purgative, drink and bath. The toxicity of C. retusa hasn’t been stated by no respondents.

Conclusion: C. retusa is a potent medicinal plant of the folklore system medicine of Burkina Faso. A general lack of knowledge on the potential toxicity of this plant among the herbalists and traditional healers is also evident. Further investigations are necessary to inform about the toxicity of this plant and preventive measures to undertake for the prevention of any intoxication.