Local knowledge relating to Vernonia Glaberrima Welw. ex O. Hoffm. (Asteraceae) in the Ecological Zones II and IV of Togo (West Africa)

Despite the various uses of Vernonia glaberrima, limited scientific ethnobotanical data exists for this plant in Togo. This study aims to quantify the knowledge and document the diverse applications of V. glaberrima in Togo. Ethnobotanical investigations were conducted in the Atakora mountain range, specifically in ecological zones II and IV of Togo, using the snowball sampling method. A total of 647 individuals (55.33% men and 44.67% women) were surveyed through individual interviews and focus groups. The Chi-square test of independence and Cramer’s V test were employed to assess correlations between variables. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results indicate that only 24.88% of respondents are familiar with and utilize this species. Six types of uses were identified, with therapeutic applications predominating (74.19%). These uses are categorized into 48 specific applications, primarily for malaria (14.37%), intestinal wounds (4.79%), stomach ache (4.79%), and fever (4.79%). The leafy stem is the most frequently used plant part (63%), mainly prepared by decoction (64%), and oral administration (48.31%) is the primary method of remedy delivery. Chi-square tests revealed significant associations between knowledge of the plant and gender (χ2 = 12.27; p = 0.000), age (χ2 = 105.74; p = 0.000) and occupation (χ2 = 82.30; p = 0.000). Cramer’s V test was used to assess the strength of association between social variables and botanical knowledge. Knowledge of the species was highest among people aged over 65 (62.82%). Therefore, integrating V. glaberrima into conservation efforts for Togo’s forest ecosystems is crucial.