Europe PMC · 2026-07-02
Researchers in southern Benin documented 28 medicinal plant species used by traditional healers to prevent and treat prostate diseases, finding that gray nicker, bamboo, and soursop are the most frequently cited. Chemical screening confirmed the top plants contain flavonoids, tannins, and coumarins with no signs of toxicity, supporting their safety for traditional use while calling for formal pharmacological validation.
68 traditional practitioners identified 28 medicinal plant species for prostate disease treatment; gray nicker (Caesalpinia bonduc) had the highest citation frequency at 36%
The Annonaceae family dominated at 11% of species; roots prepared as decoctions were the most commonly used plant part and preparation method
Chemical screening of the 8 most-cited plants detected flavonoids, tannins, and coumarins, with all extracts classified as non-toxic in brine shrimp larval tests
