Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is the most common measure for assessing overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m²) and obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m²) [1]. The prevalence of obesity continues to increase worldwide so does the burden of its associated comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, heart and cerebrovascular diseases) [2]. According to WHO, 39% and 13% of adults are overweight and obese, respectively worldwide [3]. In the United States, 60% of adults are either obese or overweight [4]. In France, the prevalence of obesity in adults was 17.5% [5]. According to the WHO, overweight and obesity are increasingly becoming significant problems not only in high-income countries but also in developing countries. In Africa, 20% to 50% of urban populations are overweight or obese [6]. In Burkina Faso, the prevalence of obesity and overweight were estimated at 7.6% and 13.5%, respectively [7]. The main cause of obesity is excessive intake of calorie foods combined with low physical activity, although genetic, endocrine and environmental influences are risk factors [1]. The conventional obesity therapy mainly involves synthetic drugs, which have harmful side effects and are inaccessible due to their very high costs [1]. Many of these synthetic drugs have been withdrawn from the market because of their adverse effects [8]. The research for new safe molecules anti-obesity then became more than a necessity. An appetite suppressant can be an excellent tool in weight management if used safely and effectively [9]. A meta-analysis on natural anti-obesity agents during the period of 2000-2018 revealed the appetite suppressant properties of several plants [10]. Hoodia gordonii (Masson) Sweet ex Decne is used in South Africa for its appetite suppressant and weight loss properties linked to its P-57 content [11] [12]. P57 is a pregnane glycoside which acts by increasing ATP in hypothalamic cells [13]. Tamarindusindica L. and Carallumafimbriata (Wall.) Gravely & Mayur are used respectively in Brazil and India to decrease food intake and reduce weight gain [14] [15]. Most of the West Africa population resort to plants during the periods of hunger and famine [16] [17]. A survey on appetite suppressant plants was carried out in the northern region of Burkina Faso [18]. However, no information on these types of plants is available in the Western region of Burkina Faso.

This study aimed to list the medicinal plants used as an appetite suppressant by traditional healers in Hauts-Bassins areas of Burkina Faso.

Out of 67 traditional healers interviewed in this survey, the majority had ages ranging from 41 to 60 years (47.76%). According to Ouattara et al. in 2021, traditional medicine was generally practiced by people of advanced age [23]. 71.64% of our population had at least 10 years of practical experience and had learned this activity through a family initiation (68.66%). The same trend was observed by Kamboule et al., conducted in 2020 in Bobo-Dioulasso [24].

The survey revealed that Fifty-eight (58) species belonging to twenty-nine (29) families were used as appetite suppressant by the traditional healers of Hauts-Bassins areas of Burkina Faso. The most mentioned families were Fabaceae (25%) followed by Combretaceae (12%), Anacardiaceae (8%) and Asclepiadaceae (7%). The predominance of medicinal use of Fabaceae in this region of Burkina Faso is in agreement with the data of ethnomedicinal survey carried out by Zongo et al., and Kam et al., in 2020 in the same areas [25] [26]. These results could be explained by the wide uses of the Fabaceae family in Burkina Faso for care management [27]. Others studies have also shown that the majority of plant species with anti-obesity properties belong to the Fabaceae and the Asteraceae families [8] [28].

The plants organs mostly used were leaves (41%) and fruits (25%). Leaves and fruits are the most used parts of the plants because they are accessible and do not require much treatment before consumption to suppress appetite.

The main modes of drugs preparation were decoction (49.62%) followed by raw consumption (44.36%). Those results is in agreement with Paré’s study which revealed the predominance of raw consumption (65%) and decoction (35%) as drugs preparation method. The drugs were generally administered orally [18].

An study have been conducted in the Northern areas of Burkina Faso and thirty-eight (38) species have been identified as appetite suppressants plants [18]. Among these plant species Annonasenegalensis, Balanitesaegyptiaca,Brachystelma bingeri,Detarium microcarpum, Diospyrosmespiliformis, Gardenia erubescens,Hibiscus sabdariffa,Lannea microcarpa,Leptadenia hastata,Saba senegalensis,Sclerocaryabirrea,Tamarindusindica,Vitex doniana,Vitellaria paradoxa,Zizyphus mauritiana were also inventoried in our study. The most cited plant species in our survey were Guierasenegalensis (07.62%) followed by Parkiabiglobosa (06.18%), Annonasenegalensis and Gardenia erubescens (05.32% for each). Parkiabiglobosa, Annonasenegalensis, Gardenia erubescens are generally food plants used during the periods of famine in Mali [29]. The study of Kouakou et al. realized in 2020 in Ivory Coast on plants used to manage certain metabolic syndromes (diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity) showed that Parkiabliglobosa was among the most cited plants for the management of obesity [30]. The surveys carry out by Paré et al., in 2016 in the north and Ouédraogo et al., in 2019 in the Sudan savannah of Burkina have reported thatAnnona senegalensis and Gardenia erubescens were mostly known for their appetite suppressant properties [18] [31]. The fruits of Parkiabiglobosa and Gardenia erubescens were also among the most consumed edible fruits in the southern of Burkina [32].

Others plants like Carallumafimbriata,Camellia sinensis,Capsicum annuum,Garcinia cambogia, Plantagoovata, have been reported to be acting as appetite suppressant [9]. The majority of approved anti-obesity drugs act by inhibiting food intake [33]. Consequently, it is necessary to continue the research on these appetite suppressant plants in order to evaluate their effectiveness.

This survey revealed that fifty-eight (58) species belonging to twenty-nine (29) families were used as appetite suppressant plants by traditional healers in Hauts-Bassins areas of Burkina Faso. The most mentioned families were Fabaceae and Combretaceae; the most cited species were Guierasenegalensis, Parkiabiglobosa, Annonasenegalensis and Gardenia erubescens. Leaves and fruits were the most parts used for drug preparation mainly by decoction or raw consumption. The oral route was the only mode of drug administration. This ethnobotanical survey provides a database on plants used as appetite suppressants in Hauts-Bassins areas of Burkina Faso. Further studies will be necessary to highlight the appetite suppressant properties of these plants and their effectiveness against obesity.

This work was carried out with the support of “the association of traditional healers in the Haut-Bassins area of Burkina Faso”.

The authors declared that present study was performed in absence of any conflict of interest.

Zongo, E., Meda, R.N.-T., Gnanou, Y., Kam, S.E., Koama, B.K., Ouedraogo, P.A., Zongo, E., Da, O., Paré, D. and Ouedraogo, G.A. (2022) Ethnobotanical Survey of Appetite Suppressant Plants Used in Hauts-Bassins Areas of Burkina Faso. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 13, 1001-1014. https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2022.1312070