Ethnobotanical study of plants used against malaria-carrying mosquitoes in the territory of Madimba, Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Malaria remains a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where local communities continue to rely extensively on plant resources for protection against mosquito vectors. This study aimed to document the plant species used against mosquitoes in the Madimba Territory (Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo), assess their ethnobotanical importance, and analyze floristic variations among local communities. Semi-structured ethnobotanical surveys were conducted between April and December 2025 among 385 informants selected using the snowball sampling method. The collected data were analyzed using ethnobotanical indices, descriptive statistics, Fisher’s exact test, and the Jaccard similarity index. A total of 28 plant species belonging to 17 botanical families were recorded, with Fabaceae and Annonaceae being the most represented families. Phanerophytes dominated the recorded flora (75%), while trees constituted the predominant growth form (46%). Leaves were the most frequently used plant part (74.29% of citations), and fumigation was the principal mode of application (66.82%). Ethnobotanical knowledge varied significantly according to respondents’ sex and age (p < 0.0001), but not according to educational level (p > 0.05). The most frequently cited species were Tephrosia vogelii (19.71%) and Nicotiana tabacum (19.23%), followed by Cananga odorata (10.81%) and Cinnamomum verum (10.09%). Repellent plants accounted for 67.85% of the recorded species, whereas insecticidal plants represented 10.71%. Similarity analyses revealed moderate variation in the use of anti-mosquito plants among the studied tribes and villages, although no statistically significant differences were observed between groups (p > 0.05). These findings highlight the importance of indigenous knowledge in mosquito control and identify several promising plant species that could serve as potential sources of environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides.
Downloads
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
1. Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. (2016). An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG IV. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 181(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12385 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12385
2. CAID. (2015). Profil du territoire de Madimba. Cellule d’Analyses des Indicateurs de Développement, Primature de la République
Démocratique du Congo. CAID - Cellule d'Analyses des Indicateurs de Développement, 65, Colonel Tshatshi, Gombe (2026)
3. Didolanvi, L., Chougourou, D. C. ., Azonkpin, S. ., Favi, G. A. ., & Akpo, A. A. . (2025). Ethnobotany and intra-cultural diversity in the uses of Tephrosia vogelii (Fabaceae) in Centre Benin (West Africa). Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 31, 1–13. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/6967
4. Dubiez, E., Yamba Yamba, T., Mvolo, B., Freycon, V. (2014). Perception locale des sols et de leur évolution dans des terroirs en cours de savanisation des populations Batandu en République démocratique du Congo. Bois. for. trop. 319(1), 19-29. https://doi.org/10.19182/bft2014.319.a20549 DOI: https://doi.org/10.19182/bft2014.319.a20549
5. Ilumbe Bayeli, G., Van Damme, P., Lukoki Luyeye, F., Joiris, V., Visser, M., & Lejoly, J. (2014). Contribution à l'étude des plantes médecinales dans le traitement des hémorroïdes par les pygmées Twa et leur voisin Oto de Bikoro, en RDC. Congo Sciences, 2(1), 46-54. http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-4358485
6. Isman, M. B. (2006). Botanical insecticides, deterrents, and repellents in modern agriculture and an increasingly regulated world. Annual Review of Entomology, 51, 45-66. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.51.110104.151146 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.51.110104.151146
7. Joyce, N. D., Dede, P., Zola, M., mawusa Rodrigue, N., & Solange, K. Z. (2025). Développement local : Un nouveau regard sur le territoire de madimba par la mécanisation agricole : Développement local : Un nouveau regard sur le territoire de madimba par la mécanisation agricole. African Scientific Journal, 3(32), 153-153. www.afrsj.com/index.php/AfricanScientificJournal/article/view/1360
8. Karger, D. N., Conrad, O., Böhner, J., Kawohl, T., Kreft, H., Soria-Auza, R. W., Zimmermann, N. E., Linder, H. P., & Kessler, M. (2017). Climatologies at high resolution for the earth’s land surface areas. Scientific Data, 4, 170122. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2017.122 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2017.122
9. Kweka, E. J., Mosha, F., Lowassa, A., Mahande, A. M., Kitau, J., Matowo, J., Mahande, M. J., Massenga, C. P., Tenu, F., Feston, E., Lyatuu, E. E., Mboya, M. A., Mndeme, R., Chuwa, G., & Temu, E. A. (2008). Ethnobotanical study of some mosquito repellent plants in north-eastern Tanzania. Malaria Journal, 7, 152. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-7-152 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-7-152
10. Maia, M. F., & Moore, S. J. (2011). Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing. Malaria Journal, 10(Suppl 1), S11. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-10-S1-S11 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-10-S1-S11
11. Menga Munkolo, P., Gerengbo Koto, G., Mawunu, M., Masengo Ashande, C., Mpiana Tshimankinda, P., Mudogo Virima, M., & Ngbolua, K.-T.-N. (2024). Integrating ethnobotany and artificial intelligence to validate the potential bioactivity of two medicinal plants traditionally used in the treatment of influenza in IBI-Village and surrounding areas, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Natural Resources for Human Health, 4(3), 230-246. https://doi.org/10.53365/nrfhh/187385 DOI: https://doi.org/10.53365/nrfhh/187385
12. Mikolo, B., & Mananga, V. (2020). Ethnobotanical survey on insecticidal and repellent plants in the Republic of Congo. Journal of Applied Biosciences, 148, 15209–15217. https://doi.org/10.35759/JABs.148.5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35759/JABs.148.5
13. Minwuyelet, A. M. A., Yewhalaw, D. D., Sciarretta, A., & Atenafu, G. (2025). Evaluating insecticide susceptibility in major African malaria vectors: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Frontiers in Malaria, 4, Article 1478249. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmala.2025.1478249 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmala.2025.1478249
14. Nerio, L. S., Olivero-Verbel, J., & Stashenko, E. (2010). Repellent activity of essential oils: A review. Bioresource Technology, 101(1), 372-378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2009.07.048 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2009.07.048
15. Ngbolua, K. N., Basosila, N., Mbembo, B., Mukomena, E., Masengo, C. A., Agossa, F., Zanga, J., Ulrich, S., & Nagahuedi, J. (2024). Resistance of Anopheles mosquitoes to insecticides in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A literature review and future directions. Orapuh Journal, 5(7), e1161. https://doi.org/10.4314/orapj.v5i7.61 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/orapj.v5i7.61
16. Ngbolua, K.-T.-N. J.-P., Moke, E. L., Masengo Ashande, C., Mawunu, M., Inkoto Liyongo, C.,
Kasali, F. M., Baholy, R. R., Tshilanda Dinangayi, D., Tshibangu Sha-Tshibey, D., & Mpiana Tshimankinda, P. (2023). Ethno-botanical survey of medicinal plants traditionally used against Diabetes mellitus in the Eastern Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Revue Congolaise des Sciences et Technologies, 2(2), 96-108. DOI: 10.59228/rcst.023.v2.i2.32 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59228/rcst.023.v2.i1.32
17. Nishida, R. (2014). Chemical ecology of insect-plant interactions: Ecological significance of plant secondary metabolites. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 78(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/09168451.2014.877836 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09168451.2014.877836
18. Nkya, T. E., Akhouayri, I., Kisinza, W., & David, J. P. (2013). Impact of environment on mosquito response to pyrethroid insecticides: facts, evidences and prospects. Insect biochemistry and molecular biology, 43(4), 407–416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibmb.2012.10.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibmb.2012.10.006
19. Nyasvisvo, D. S., Nhiwatiwa, T., Sithole, R. ., Sande, S., & Chapano, C. (2024). An An ethnobotanical survey of plants used against host-seeking mosquitoes by communities in Mazowe and Shamva districts, Zimbabwe. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 28, 1-19. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5661 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32859/era.28.14.1-19
20. Nyirenda, S. P., Sileshi, G. W., Belmain, S. R., Kamanula, J. F., Mvumi, B. M., Sola, P., Nyirenda, G. K. C., & Stevenson, P. C. (2011). Farmers' ethno-ecological knowledge of vegetable pests and pesticidal plant use in Malawi and Zambia. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 6(6), 1525-1537. https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR/article-full-text-pdf/688D12838818
21. Pathy, K. K., Flavien, N. B., Honore, B. K., Vanhove, W., & Van Damme, P. (2021). Ethnobotanical characterization of medicinal plants used in Kisantu and Mbanza-Ngungu territories, Kongo-Central Province, DR Congo. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 17(5), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-021-00436-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-021-00436-1
22. Pavela, R., & Benelli, G. (2016). Essential oils as ecofriendly biopesticides: Challenges and constraints. Trends in Plant Science, 21(12), 1000-1007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2016.10.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2016.10.005
23. PNLP (2020). Plan stratégique national de lutte contre le paludisme 2020-2023. Ministère de la Santé Publique, République Démocratique du Congo. https://pnlprdc.org/wp-content
24. Rahmawati, N., Sholikhah, I. Y. M., Mujahid, R., Widiyastuti, Y., Nugroho, A. E., & Rohman, A. (2024). Ethnomedical uses of Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook. f. and Thomson in indigenous traditional medicine among Indonesia ethnic groups. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 14(9), 128–137. https://doi.org/10.7324/JAPS.2024.183534 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7324/JAPS.2024.183534
25. Shibeshi, A., Sebsibe, A., Teka, A., & Aklilu, E. (2024). Ethnobotanical Study of Mosquito Repellent Plants Used in Seweyna District, Bale Zone, Southeast, Ethiopia. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM, 2024, 6610579. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/6610579 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/6610579
26. Stevenson, P. C., Isman, M. B., & Belmain, S. R. (2017). Pesticidal plants in Africa: A global vision of new biological control products from local uses. Industrial Crops and Products, 110, 2–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.08.034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.08.034
27. Tugume, P., Nyakoojo, C., Ethno, R., Kamatenesi-Mugisha, M., Mucunguzi, P., & Oryem-Origa, H. (2016). Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plant species used by communities around Mabira Central Forest Reserve, Uganda. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 12, 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-015-0077-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-015-0077-4
28. Waka, M., Hopkins, R. J., & Curtis, C. (2004). Ethnobotanical survey and testing of plants traditionally used against hematophagous insects in Eritrea. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 95(1), 95–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.07.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.07.003
29. Wondimnew, A., Yiblet, Y., Getachew, A., Muche, T., & Amsalu, H. (2025). Ethnobotanical Study of Traditional Medicinal Plants Used by the Local People in Mekdela Woreda, South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia. Scientifica, 2025, 8875307. https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/8875307 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/8875307
30. World Health Organization. (2024). World malaria report 2024: Addressing inequity in the global malaria response. World Health Organization.
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240104440
31. Yolidje, I., Keita, D. A., Moussa, I., Toumane, A., Bakasso, S., Saley, K., Much, T., Pirat, J.-L., & Ouamba, J. M. (2020). Enquête ethnobotanique sur les plantes utilisées traditionnellement au Niger dans la lutte contre les moustiques vecteurs des maladies parasitaires. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 14(2), 570-579. https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v14i2.21 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v14i2.21
32. Youmsi, R. D. F., Fokou, P. V. T., Menkem, E. Z., Bakarnga-Via, I., Keumoe, R., Nana, V., & Boyom, F. F. (2017). Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used as insects repellents in six malaria endemic localities of Cameroon. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 13, 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-017-0155-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-017-0155-x