Abstract

Piliostigma reticulatum (D.C.) Hochst is a plant belonging to the legume family. The population widely uses it as medicine, food, feed, and many others. This study aimed to enlighten the status of P. reticulatum in the Maradi region through an ethno-nutritional survey. Three localities in the region were concerned by the study, namely the city of Maradi, the rural commune of Sarkin Hausa (Mayahi department), and the Aguie department. A population of 920 people were interviewed, mostly constituted of Hausa ethnic group (89.5%). The respondents were classified according to gender with 36.2% female and 63.8% male. However, 55.5% of them were aged between 20 and 40 years old. The main activity of respondents was mainly agriculture (30%) followed by pupils/students (24.6%). This study shows that P. reticulatum 97.4% of the population in the study area surveys stated to recognize the plant. Furthermore, it was noted that 99% of the surveys that recognized the plant were ≥ 40 years old. On the other hand, this wild plant is better known in rural areas (100% in the rural commune of Sarkin Hausa) than in urban areas (93.53% in the city of Maradi). In addition, the tree is better used in rural areas (99% in Sarkin Hausa) than in urban areas (73.23% in Maradi). It was found that P. reticulatum is an available tree throughout the study zone (92.7%). Indeed, 89.5% of respondents know that the tree is used either in human food or in animal feed and that these pods and seeds are the most used parts accordingly 27.9% and 15.3% respectively. Indeed, highly appreciated by this population, up to its usage in traditional medicine; thus, the study revealed that 35.3% of respondents disclosed that all organs of the plant are useful.

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