Therapeutic Uses of False Sesame (Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl.) in the Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian Part of Burkina Faso

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Résumé

This study investigates the ethnomedicinal knowledge of false sesame (Ceratotheca sesamoides
Endl.) among rural populations in Burkina Faso, with a focus on how this knowledge varies across
social parameters such as ethnicity, gender, and age. The primary objective is to assess the extent and distribution of local knowledge concerning the medicinal uses of this underutilized plant,
particularly regarding ailments for which it is used as a remedy. The study specifically examines the
plant parts employed for therapeutic purposes and the variations in knowledge among different
demographic groups. Data were collected through semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews
conducted with 240 participants representing 12 distinct ethnic groups. Quantitative analyses were
performed using use indices, Shannon diversity indices, and Chi-square tests to identify significant
patterns of knowledge distribution. The results showed that gender and age significantly affected
knowledge about the medicinal uses of false sesame (p = 0.034 and p = 0.004, respectively), while
ethnicity did not have a significant effect. However, the Shannon indices demonstrated a high
diversity of knowledge across all demographic groups, indicating a widespread and rich
ethnomedicinal understanding of this plant. These findings highlight the importance of preserving
traditional knowledge and suggest that false sesame holds potential for contributing to sustainable
health care solutions and ethnopharmacological research in areas where access to modern
medicine is limited.

Mots-clés

Ceratotheca sesamoides, traditional use, ethnic group, resource conservation, plant parts.