The natural abundance of 13C was used to estimate the turnover of the soil organic matter in a vertisol re-grassed with Digitaria decumbens (C4 plant) following intensive market gardening (C3 plants). In addition, the experimental design allowed us to determine the respective roles of roots and earthworms (Polypheretima elongata) in soil C stock restoration in D. decumbens pasture. The C stock increased from 31 to 37 Mg C ha-1 in 5 years and the d13C increased from -18.1% in market gardening soil to -15.5% in the 5-year-old pasture soil in the upper 20 cm. Below the 20 cm soil layer, the C stock and the d13C did not change significantly in 5 years. The net gain of 6 Mg C ha-1 was the balance of a loss of 5 Mg C ha-1 derived from market gardening and a gain of 11 Mg C ha-1 derived from D. decumbens. Effects of earthworms on the C dynamics were not discernible.
Tag: biological activity
Traditional Use of Medicinal Plants Confirmed by the Baka in Southern and Eastern Cameroon
The limitations of biomedecine to provide effective solutions to certain pandemics has led many people to turn to alternative therapies. These palliative solutions, particularly phytomedecines, are much sought after for disease prevention and treatment. The Baka, a group of forest-dwelling people, hold knowledge on how wild plants can be effective in treating many illnesses. However, the greatest challenge for the identification of traditional medicines depends on the veracity of the information provided during ethnobotanic surveys by user populations. The present study describes forest plants used by the Baka and confirmed by them as being employed for traditional medicine. We carried out ethnobotanical surveys between 2019 and 2021 in 221 households within four districts of the Eastern and Southern Region of Cameroon. We used indices of significant use and performance applied to all mentioned species, alongside searches in the literature. The statistical tools used to distinguish the different groups/districts is Pearson’s X2 test. A total of 378 plant species were identified of 270 genera and 85 families. Ethnobotanical indices allowed to identify the most confirmed and efficient plants for several health problems. A pairwise comparison of these indices showed a significant correlation with a p-value < 2.2e-16 and a dissimilarity distance less than 0.5. Some plants selected are widely cited in other regions and/or countries for the same health problems. The presence of active molecules responsible for their biological activity was also proven, justifying their use in traditional medicine. This paper examines the potential to enhance the value of Cameroon’s pharmacopeia by integrating various ethnobotanical indices. It aims to discover new therapeutic molecules and develop improved traditional products from the diverse plant species documented. The findings indicate opportunities to advance both local and global healthcare solutions.