Ethnomedicine of the Baka Moloundou for Oral Conditions

Dental mutilations have given rise to a pharmacopoeia designed to combat the consequences of this traumatic practice among the Baka. In Cameroon, due to precarious living conditions and poverty, the use of traditional medicine serves as an alternative to formal healthcare. One of the most important strategies for the development of traditional medicine and improved traditional medicines involves a more in-depth exploration of Africa's traditional botanical and therapeutic heritage. The oral and dental pathologies found among the Baka of the Moloundou health district consist primarily of dental caries and periodontal diseases. We identified 13 plants with therapeutic properties used to treat these conditions. Decoctions remain the most commonly used method of preparation. Although preliminary, these results provide a potential foundation for future studies focused on more in-depth phytochemical and pharmacological analyses.