Ethnobotanical Survey of a Medicinal Plant Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) for Food and Therapy from Senegal

Abstract

The need to validate the use of plants in food and traditional African medicine has prompted investigations into Balanites aegyptiaca (L.), about which knowledge is largely empirical. It is within this context that this work is situated, the objectives of which are to identify the therapeutic and nutritional properties of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.). Thus, an ethnobotanical study was conducted in the Linguère department (Dodji district) in Senegal during August 2025, with the aim of clarifying its various uses in food and even medicinal practices. This ethnobotanical study represents a fundamental tool for understanding and valuing traditional knowledge about Balanites aegyptiaca . It allows for the documentation of knowledge and practices related to the use of plants, while supporting their conservation and integration into sustainable development strategies. The results show that the fruit pulp and seed oil are the most commonly used parts in food, at 99% and 34% respectively. The pulp and peel are primarily used in therapy, at 72.27% and 32.67% respectively. A tiny proportion of 0.99% of those surveyed use a combination of several parts of the plant, including leaves, twigs, bark, roots and fruit, to compose multi-purpose remedies often intended to treat chronic conditions or against supernatural beings. Several infections treated with Balanites aegyptiaca were identified during the investigation. These include high blood pressure (85%), the common cold (31%), malaria (9%), dental pain (7%), headaches (7%), sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (7%), and intestinal parasites (deworming effect) (12%). These results constitute a contribution to the establishment of an ethnobotanical data on Balanites aegyptiaca (L.).