Etude ethnobotanique de quelques plantes médicinales utilisées dans le traitement du cancer de côlon.

Abstract

Cancer is a malignant disease caused by genetic mutations that lead to abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth. Among the most common types is colorectal cancer, which develops in the lining of the colon or rectum.As part of the search for natural treatments, field studies have been conducted since 2018 in collaboration with doctors and medicinal plant experts. The findings revealed that men over the age of 60 are the most affected, particularly by cancers of the colon, rectum, and stomach, especially during the years 2020, 2022, and 2023.Herbal medicine specialists proposed several traditional plants as potential treatments, including Artemisia, black seed (Nigella sativa), turmeric, and garlic. However, most doctors remain cautious and do not support relying on these plants as alternatives to modern medical therapies. Nevertheless, despite growing interest in traditional plant-based treatments, scientific documentation remains lacking for certain specific species. The study also encountered several challenges, particularly in the accurate identification of plant species, discrepancies among informants, and limited access to reliable data.These limitations highlight the need to strengthen scientific knowledge in this field, and to encourage more rigorous research to accurately assess the true therapeutic potential of these medicinal plants.