Medicinal plants have been a source of succour in the control of many diseases in developing countries and
anaemia is no exception. In this study, ethnomedical survey was carried out for recording medicinal plants used in Northern
and South-Eastern Côte d’Ivoire against anaemia. Also iron content was determined for some of the recorded plants using
phenanthroline method. Thirty (30) medicinal plants, covering 28 genera and 22 families were recorded. These plants were
used to prepare 30 receipts for the treatment of anaemia and aggravating factors such as malaria and gastro-intestinal
helminthes. Eleven (11) of these medicinal plants showed presence of iron in various quantities. The most promising were
Tectona grandis
,
Amaranthus spinosus
and
Stylosanthes erecta
which contained the highest iron contents viz; 266.6, 236.6
and 206.6 mg/100 g respectively. They were followed by
Hoslundia opposita
,
Imperata cylindrica
,
Cajanus cajan
,
Thalia
geniculata
and
Milicia excelsa
. These results lend credence to the traditional use of these plants in Cote d’Ivoire’s
ethnomedicine for the treatment of anaemia.
