Ethnobotanical study and safety assessment of medicinal plants from Guiriko region of Burkina Faso used for their doping properties

The use of medicinal plants remains an essential practice in sub-Saharan Africa, where they constitute a major therapeutic and socio-cultural resource objective of the study was to investigate medicinal plants used for doping in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso. Methods: To do this, a semi-structured ethnobotanical survey was first conducted among traditional practitioners. Phytochemical compositions of the plants were analyzed using spectrophotometry. Finally, the acute toxicity of the doping plants was studied by administering a single dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight to NRMI mice, which were observed for 14 days. Results: A total of 50 traditional practitioners and herbalists were interviewed and 25 plants species belonging to 17 botanical families were identified. Based on the frequency of citation, the species Martynia annua Lin (Martyniaceae), Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen (Polygalaceae), and Leptadenia hastata (Pesr.) Decne (Asclepiadaceae) were selected for further study. The leaves (55.13%) and root bark (21.79%) were the most used parts. The phytochemical study revealed the presence of phenolic compounds such as polyphenols, total flavonoids and tannins. The extracts exhibited antioxidant activity. The toxicity test of hydroethanolic extracts of M. annua and L. hastata species in mice established an LD50 indicates no toxicity. Conclusions: This study showed that, in addition to using medicinal plants for healing, the local population also uses them for other purposes.